Plan accordingly: Muni sickout today

SFGate reports that Muni workers have gone through with a rumored sickout this morning. From SFGate:

A sickout by Muni workers is disrupting service Monday morning, and commuters are being told to use alternate means of transportation.

The action follows a vote on a proposed budget with recommendations from SFMTA that didn’t sit well with the Muni workers’ union More from SFGate:

Under the proposal, the MTA says Muni workers would get 11.25 percent in raises over two years, but they would pick up a 7.5 percent pension payment now paid by the MTA.

[…]Muni workers, like all San Francisco city employees, are prohibited from striking. Under Proposition G, approved by city voters in 2010, if union members reject the proposed contract, it goes to an arbitrator who cannot rule against Muni management’s proposals unless the union can prove that its interests outweigh “the public interest in efficient and reliable transit.”

Thus the sickout this morning. SFGate says that, according to SFMTA officials, “BART is honoring Muni fare in San Francisco and Daly City.”

Muni rider falls, injures herself on the bus floor

30 muni by analogskirt
Photo by analogskirt

Muni rider Chandra saw a rider fall so badly that she was knocked unconscious. Here’s Chandra’s story.

“It happened this Tuesday on the 1-California Muni line at about 2:30 p.m. The bus was headed up Sacramento Street toward Divisadero in the medical neighborhood. I was on my way to a medical appointment on this sunny day, dreaming and enjoying watching the street. A seat was empty next to the left of me. Maybe she was about to sit down. The bus was stopped at about midway between the Embarcadero and Divisadero, as I was gazing out the window on my right.

“Then the bus lurched forward, simultaneously I sensed a shadow fly faster than a bat. CRACK! I heard as the shadow shot faster than a bullet, a heavy, sickeningly fast BAM!

“At first I couldn’t look. I heard someone close to my feet say, ‘She has a pulse, but just barely. She cracked her head bad.’

“Two medics arrived in turquoise scrubs. She looked like she was trying to gain consciousness, maybe seizing, hopefully not dying. She was Asian, perhaps 50, well-dressed. I asked if anyone had called 911 emergency. At first, everyone in shock, no one answered. The bus driver said, ‘I’m handling it, I’m calling Central Headquarters.’ I asked again if anyone had called 911. Finally a lady behind me said her husband had called emergency, and that help was on the way. I thanked the medics at my feet. I began to cry, quietly. Then the bus-driver told us all to get off the bus. I begged the medics to stay by the woman’s side until the ambulance came.

“I wonder: Why weren’t we kept there as witnesses to an accident? Why did we all comply, getting off the bus, when the driver responsible for the accident was the one ordering us away? Did she live? How much damage was there?”

Do you know anything about terrible-sounding incident? We of course hope the woman is okay. Careful out there, you guys!

Transit News: Muni funding, BART funding, Muni sues Muni

news16
Photo by Mobilus In Mobili

Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or something stronger) and get caught up on your Bay Area transit news …

  • Why Muni Omitted Surnames of Safe Driver Honorees from Ads (Petrelis Files)
  • Supervisor Wiener has backup plan for Muni funding (SFGate)
  • Increased advertising on Muni buses approved despite criticism (SF Examiner)
  • BART Agrees to Pay $175,000 to Men Detained With Oscar Grant (SF Appeal)
  • BART could consider ballot measure for funds, director says (The Alamedan)
  • BART delays progress on wheelchair access in Fleet of the Future (SF Bay Guardian)
  • Trip to Oakland airport via new tram could cost $6 (ABC 7)
  • No Free Rides: Finally, Inevitably: Muni Is Suing Muni (SF Weekly)

Muni: You aren’t responsible to pay when a Clipper card reader is broken

This week, SFGate reported on a phenomenon that many Muni riders know all too well: when the Clipper card reader is broken and you don’t have a Fast Pass on your card, you might get a citation from fare inspectors. But yesterday, we were informed by the SFMTA again that you shouldn’t be cited in this situation.

In 2010, we asked SFMTA about the policy for fares when the Clipper card reader is broken. They told us that when the machines are broken, drivers are not supposed to make cardholders pay, regardless of whether the rider has a monthly Fast Pass loaded on the card. We even got the document SFMTA says they sent to operators notifying them of this change in procedure in 2010 (see above).

Has Muni’s fare policy changed since our 2010 story?

SFMTA spokesperson Paul Rose told us yesterday, “The policy has not changed. We are not going to hold passengers accountable if there is no way to tag your card.”

According to the SFGate story, about 55,000 people have been cited since July. And:

Since July, 8,700 Muni riders have complained they were wrongly cited for not paying the fare, many times because of broken scanners, according to appeal records. Roughly 175 of the riders succeeded in getting their ticket dismissed.

So there you go, folks. Whether the inspectors and drivers were misinformed, now you have the word (and the memo) to protest your tickets.

Everything You Need to Know About Muni Service During Bay to Breakers Sunday

bay to breakers muni
Photo by Nick Fisher

Our annual costumed drunk running race is back Sunday, and here’s everything you need to know about commuting during Bay to Breakers via the SFMTA. Don’t forgot to tweet your best B2B photos to @munidiaries!

Summary of Service Impacts
On Sunday the race will begin at 8 a.m.
The annual Bay to Breakers footrace will cause major reroutes and delays Sunday morning. The race starts on Howard from Steuart to 9th Street., runs on Hayes from Market to Divisadero, on Fell from Divisadero to the Golden Gate Park, and on JFK Drive all the way to the Great Highway.

If you’re not participating in the race, you are encouraged to avoid areas affected by the Bay to Breakers. Read more

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