Muni with Ambiance

I don’t know about you, but my mood is easily influenced by my surroundings. Examples of bad ambiance that puts a damper on my mood: unflattering fluorescent lighting, questionable aromas, uncomfortable seating…sounds a little like our favorite transit system, huh? Well, looks like I’m not the only one wishing for a little something extra from our buses. Rider Casgal wrote to ask: “What do you think about a test bus with softer lighting? Still well-lit, but more rosy, maybe people would ease up a bit. Virgin airlines uses color to make flights more enjoyable, maybe better lighting could help our city buses?”

Brilliant idea, Casgal. I am thinking a bus that harkens back to the days of the Orient Express: soft amber glow of gas lamps, plush velvet overstuffed seats with a couple of down throw pillows). And just for fun, a dining car (the original Orient Express dining car offered oyster and chocolate cake). Hmm. One can only dream.

Better lighting, a softer mood, comfortable seats…the folks at Improv Everywhere had the same idea and turned a subway car in Prague into a living room.

Hacky Sack at Lake Merritt Station

Riders Matt and Dawn told me that they have separately both seen a group of Chinese people playing Hacky Sack inside the Lake Merritt BART station. Hacky Sack? Inside the station?

A little sleuthing unearthed this video:

The poster on YouTube reports that this was actually a Chinese game called jianzi, what some would say is the “original hacky sack.” But unlike hacky sack, jianzi is played with a shuttlecock (yeah, I had to look up that one too). I actually saw this game played when I was a kid. But why inside the BART station? I wonder if it’s some kind of a pick-up game.

Anybody got more information on this bit of morning fun at the Lake Merritt station?

p.s. This is not to be confused with the footbag practice held by the Chaos Footbag Club at Lake Merritt – the lake, not the BART station, according to Jack H. at Chaos. Jack asserts that his sport (like “volleyball with your feet”) is also way cool.

A Match Made On BART

Lisa_Nick2

Riders Nick and Lisa were generous enough to share with us the story of how they met…on BART! They were BART commuters who, conveniently (dear readers, you will see the importance of this fact later in the story), parked their cars at the station.

The story goes:

Nick and Lisa both rode the BART train to work everyday. Too shy to say hello or even smile, they continued for months quietly admiring each other without a peep.

Nick told a few close friends about the “BART girl,” while Lisa decided to keep everything about the “BART boy” a secret.

Then one day, as Nick was heading down the escalator, Lisa happened to be walking up the adjoining staircase. Lisa decided to casually look up to catch a glimpse. She found Nick looking back at her with the cutest smile on his face.

Blushing, Lisa smiled back.

After this brief encounter, however, their schedules seemed to conflict, and they did not see each other for several weeks.

Lisa proposed to herself a bold plan sure to capture Nick’s attention. She decided to leave an anonymous note on Nick’s car that read, “YOU ARE A CUTIE. HI.” Simple. Honest. Bold but not scary. She wrote a note and took a chance.

Two days later, as Lisa was walking to her car at the BART station, she noticed Nick sitting in his car. He smiled. He waved. He took off. Lisa got to her car and discovered a note on HER car that read, “No, I think YOU’RE the Cutie. And TAG, You’re IT. 219-0398. Nick. P.S. And if this is the wrong car, please disregard.”

Nick waited patiently for a call from Lisa, hoping she was the one who put the note on his car, and not some crazy stalker.

The conversation lasted four hours that first night. After an amazing first date, a lick of approval from Pixel [the dog], and a wonderful two-year relationship replete with secretly stashed love notes, Nick surprised Lisa by proposing to her on July 8th, their two-year anniversary.

Lisa and Nick got married in August, 2005. They shared the story above in their wedding invitation.

All together now. “Aww! (Sigh!)” More happy BART stories? We heart it ever so much.

Don’t Miss It: Muni Missed Connections of the Week

Jogger
Photo by Flickr user Kanaka’s Paradise Life

Ah, Missed Connections. How we love thee. We peruse thy pages with flight and fancy, and come away bemused or enthralled (throttled, even, perhaps), filled with blush and bluster, enamored and amused.

Our picks for Muni-related missed connections of the past week:

Thanks for helping me find the N this morning (Sunday) – m4w (downtown / civic / van ness)

I wasn’t trying to hit on you this morning in the civic center muni station, but after I talked to you I realized that I should have been. I think you’re beautiful and would love to know what you do when you’re not running races or marathons. I was the guy in the white shirt, trying to think of something good to say to you while waiting to see if the N line was still running.

Ha! “wasn’t trying to hit on you” is, like, the oldest one in the book.  Go, bro!

Blonde girl on the muni, got off at Montgomery! – m4w – 26

What’s up!

Saw you on Muni; you wore a white v-neck shirt with jeans at about 1:30 PM – we rode a few stops together and got off at Montgomery station together. I didn’t notice how awesome you looked until we both got off and started walking upstairs!

Me: fit Hawaiian kid with orange long-sleeve shirt and black jeans with black sunglasses

Just wanna chat over coffee 😉

Okay, two things here: Nice unintentional (I think) double-meaning in the title, dude. And the enthusiastic, “What’s up!” is really endearing.

I see you everywhere in your sweatshirt and shorts – m4m – 24 (nob hill)

It’s hilarious at this point how many times I’ve seen you all over the city– Duboce Triangle, Nob Hill, downtown, muni.

We both clearly enjoy the flirtation of it all, but I have to ask when it’s going to happen.

Let me know. 🙂

Hmm. Sweatshirt and shorts, huh. This could be anybody!

Send us your Muni Missed Connections. And stay tuned as we pick out the best Missed Connections of the week.

There Is No Spoon

bart diaries girl

Rider Lindsay sent us the picture above with this note:

I was coming home from a very long day visiting a friend (I am from Georgia), caught the very last train of the night (somewhere around/past midnight) and saw this little girl STARING at me while everyone else was fast asleep.

Thanks, Lindsay (and welcome to the Bay)!

Someone caught your eye on BART? Tell us all about it.

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