Tara – Page 69 – Muni Diaries

Tara Ramroop has laughed, cried, and commiserated with this amazing community from the start. She's been writing for as long as she can remember and riding Muni for more than a decade.

Purse burglary on 38L. Merry Xmas Eve!

December 24, 2008 Tara 5 comments

Damned kids.

I wonder what they stole if it wasn’t her wallet or phone? Sounds like an EPIC FAIL burglary attempt to me.

Um, so yeah, don’t leave your purse open while you’re spacing out on the bus, especially if there are snotty teenagers on the bus with you. From extensive sociological study (i.e. staring passive-aggressively at them when they bother me), I find that when they’re not screaming at one another, at the bus driver, into their phones or all of the above, they’re eying your blank stare and swanky purse of grown-up goodies.

I had a theory that teenagers are pretty much the worst category of people in the world, and I haven’t been proven wrong just yet.

And if today’s San Francisco Examiner story about truancy is any indication, they best watch out for the narcs.

Category: diaries, News Tags: 38L-Geary, muni-etiquette

Sweet Dreams, Muni

December 24, 2008 Tara Leave a comment

It’s almost poignant. Definitely peaceful. And practically a perfect Christmas message.

Then you learn that an army of buses came to sleep in the lot at Stockton and North Point at 6:30 on a Tuesday evening, and, in keeping with the emotions and thoughts that Muni typically leaves us with, you wonder, WTF?

… and to all a good night.

Category: reflection, WTF: Weirdness on Muni Tags: muni-gripe

Only in San Francisco

December 19, 2008 Tara 4 comments

Until the store in Pier 39 of the same name (Only in San Francisco) starts selling Eau de Urine parfum and employs a yelling, angry schizophrenic mascot, I’m going to go ahead and call bullshit on their choice moniker.

Favorite thing overheard on the 49 last night:

“I’m just doing this until I get into in clown school in January.”

If you’re wondering, “this” is living in a work-here-and-get-free-room-and-board hotels off Van Ness. (I thought those were whorehouses?)

Anyway, many in SF (and in many major city) seem to be in a state of flux. I’m only doing this until I get into grad school. I’m working as a barista because I got laid off. I had a high-stress job, now I’m working on my writing and taking it easy. But I wonder how many other people around the world hear “clown school” in relation to a career on their ride home.

Maybe that Only in San Francisco store can start selling clown attire for the budding painted-person-entertainment industry.

-Tara

Category: diaries, Funny: Muni LOLs Tags: muni-etiquette

How is that comfortable?

December 12, 2008 Tara 4 comments

Time for another incredulous installment of “is this you?”

I could smell your whiskey as soon as you stepped on the bus, you referred to the Latino driver using the ever-condescending “amigo!” and you sit like an asshole. I know the bus wasn’t full, but that’s no excuse.

Jackass.

Category: diaries Tags: muni-etiquette

Bus tourism: The little idea that could

December 11, 2008 Tara One comment

This bus-tourism article from The New York Times Travel section just tickles me. I’m a big proponent of buses (yes, really), especially as a way for visitors to get a quick-and-dirty look at local life. The NYT story claims that by using one of their suggested $7.50-per-day city bus tours – an idea likely borne out of the dismal economy – you can see most of Manhattan in 3.5 hours of bus time, plus a few short walks and/or Subway rides.

Since it takes an hour, roughly, to get between any given Point A and B in San Francisco on Muni, bus tourism is a tragically laughable concept once you translate the idea for our fair city. For comparison’s sake, based on square-footage, Manhattan Island is a little less than one-half the size of San Francisco.

San Francisco has an identity crisis. This manifests itself in a number of ways, including copious, self-conscious references to it being a “world-class” city with “world-class” stuff. You can find such references in everything from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s 2008 inaugural address to his endorsement of a contemporary art museum in the Presidio to just about any time someone official talks about San Francisco International Airport. Sadly, the world-class city with world-class stuff doesn’t have world-class transportation, effectively disqualifying it from consideration to host the 2012 Olympic games.

Category: News, WTF: Weirdness on Muni Tags: muni-gripe

Self-conscious realization gone wrong

December 10, 2008 Tara 4 comments

Is this you? Please don’t talk on the phone so loudly next time.

I realize you were lost on your way to meet friends and Muni did you some horrible injustice (welcome to the club). But once you say “Wait, I’m bothering people on the bus” to whoever you’re talking to, you basically have about 30 seconds to get off the phone before you become the biggest asshole on the bus. FAIL. Visit Muni Manners for more helpful hints!

Thx.