The San Francisco that might’ve been

San Francisco rapid transit plans (1956)
Image from Eric Fischer‘s Flickr account

I honestly can’t recall how I came across this. Twitter? RSS? Email?

In any case, the image above, published to Flickr by Eric Fischer, is a map of proposed subway and elevated train routes through our fair city. I often imagine what could be transit-wise, failing to remember that some of that stuff is more “what might’ve been.” Or, in some cases, it’s “what used to be.” The freeways-all-over-the-damn-place stuff I can do without. These subway lines, on the other hand, are the shiznit.

Weekend Photos: Snapshots from the Underground

2.17 Minutes
Photo by Flickr user AlexFromThe510

This week in BART news:
– Federal funding for BART extension to San Jose is looking more likely (SJ Mercury)

– BART derailed in Oakland (KCBS and us)

– BART wouldn’t necessarily bring crime to Livermore, police chief says (Contra Costa Times)

Stay dry out there and enjoy the photos. And, of course, send us BART stories our way. We know more happens on BART than napping, so share it here on BART Diaries!

Coliseum BART B
Photo by Flickr user zokah_921

View from the floor
Photo by Flickr user moppet65535

2009-11-28 08.06
Photo by Flickr user KayVee.INC

‘Suspicious’ ‘Package’ at Montgomery Station (update)

package
Photo by Paul

Update: Paul sends this update:

Suspicious Package at Montgomery Station…now being recycled.

… along with this photo:
package_recycle

Hilarious, ain’t it?

Original post: Muni rider Paul sends this message of holiday cheer:

Putting a box wrapped as an Xmas gift in front of the Muni Kiosk window is one ‘festive’ way to to avoid contact with Muni customers! …..Leaves more time for this attendent to talk on the phone and file her nails! Muni’s finest….hard at work finding new innovating ways to avoid customer service ….now with a festive touch!!

Send us your Muni stories. Tell all your friends.

Obit-lette: 38-Geary Ocean Beach

38 Geary Ocean Beach
Photo by Flickr user Jeremy Brooks

100 Muni StoriesIn 2009, several Muni lines got the axe. To further anthropomorphize our city transit system — and to be a bit silly about the cuts — we solicited Muni obituaries from our readers. We learned San Franciscans were more attached to their pet lines than we ever imagined, not just because of proximity or convenience. This part of Sara’s writeup, in its entirety below, says it all for me: “For me and my husband, that turn means we’re going home.”

The 38-Geary Ocean Beach was eliminated over the weekend along with other route segments. Here’s Sara’s obituary for it.

So we took what is probably our last ride on the 38 Geary Ocean Beach line Friday night — even waited a few extra moments in the dark and cold on Geary for it, turning our noses up at an earlier bus so that we could experience that heart-warming turn off at 33rd Avenue one last time. For me and my husband, that turn means we’re going home.

I suspect a lot of Geary riders hardly knew the Ocean Beach branch line existed, or if they did it was just as that annoying occasional bus that would suddenly and inexplicably turn off of Geary, just as they were approaching the end of the line. There was always a confused scramble for the exits just after the turn as riders found themselves suddenly traveling what they obviously thought was the wrong way. And inevitably, one old guy asking plaintively “Hey, does this bus go to the VA Hospital?”

It was my favorite bus line though, because it ran right by my front door on Balboa and carried me to and from all the busy spots on Geary where I needed to be. Also, it effectively doubled the bus service on what will now be a very quiet and poorly served residential stretch of Balboa. That especially matters to me because I work a late shift downtown, and there will now be fewer options and longer waits at midnight on Market street. Standing there under the streetlight with the other late-night stragglers, I always felt like I’d hit the jackpot when I saw the “Ocean Beach” sign on the front of the approaching bus.

Sure there is a Balboa bus, but it’s not terribly frequent. As Muni helpfully points out, I can take the regular Geary bus or the Fulton– only two blocks in either direction from Balboa– but they neglect to mention the fairly daunting hills involved or the size of those blocks. And I guess now they’re offering the rather piss-poor alternative of getting off the Geary at 33rd and waiting for an infrequent 18 bus to show up and take you down Balboa. But change buses to travel 10 blocks, and at midnight no less? No.

I was pleased to see another reader eulogize this line last week, because I figured nobody else cares. I’m well aware that my desire to see it continue is pretty selfish — I was often the only rider left by the time we reached my stop. But nevertheless, I’m going to miss you, 38 Ocean Beach.

Read last week’s eulogy for the 38-Geary Ocean Beach here.

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