Category: Photos

Photo by Flickr user Justin Beck

Being a Muni rider has been a tough gig lately, with fare hikes, service cuts, accidents, and a slew of other changes sure to affect many of us. With SFMTA being in the middle of that budget crisis, we’re looking at some pretty harsh proposals (i.e. get the chopping block out) on how to get out of this mess. And, coming as no surprise to readers of Muni Diaries, public opinion of Muni is plummeting.

But in my search for more news updates and going through our submissions, I found so many great photos of everyday Muni riders that speak volumes about why public transit brings out such strong emotions. Through the lens of these urban photogs, I’m reminded that riding Muni is one of the few experiences shared by most San Franciscans: yuppie, hipster, hippie, homeless, average Jane and Joe. It brings out anger, frustration, and impatience. Yet instead of just swearing to drive, walk, or ride our bikes, we still get on the bus every day because we depend on it, as much as we depend on our morning coffee or shower. It’s more than a means of transportation: it also brings out stories that are funny, gross, weird, poignant…everything that makes living in our city unique.

Yeah, some parts of that experience make you shake your head — or even your fist — but other parts of it can sometimes make you smile. So, let me interrupt our regularly scheduled programming and share some of those images taken of and by your neighbors on the bus.

Photo by Flickr user ptwheel

More photos after the jump. And other great Muni photos can be found in the Muni Photos Flickr pool.
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Twitterer @twinpeaks_sf sends us a photo of this relic: The ill-fated Muni double-decker experiment of 2007.

Oh, the romance that could have been! But like most romantic gestures, the double-decker bus wasn’t exactly practical. The Examiner pointed out that overgrown trees and tunnel clearance posed problems, and passengers coming down the stairs made each bus stop take longer than it should (can you imagine?)

As twinpeaks_sf noted, “The good old days …”

Reminds me of a great song: “And if a double-decker bus kills the both of us …”

Photo by Flickr user Justin.Beck

All that talk about a Muni driver’s proposed fried chicken run made me fantasize about hopping on the 38 straight to Popeye’s. Meanwhile, more important stuff was going on this week:

– Muni missing 80 percent more runs as de facto service cuts set in (Streetsblog SF). Judging from the last four weeks of MTA data, Muni is missing a big chunk of runs mostly due to a freeze in overtime, Streetsblog’s Michael Rhodes reports.

– Muni operators and their union reject concession proposal. Mayor angry! This is putting fare hikes and service cuts back in play in a big way. Operators told Streetsblog SF that the union did not do enough to inform members about the proposal. (SF Examiner, Streetsblog SF)

– Bloody AC Transit fight (SFist). New violent transit obsession? We hope not.

– J-Church Thursday morning collision with an F train was caused by “human error,” SFMTA says. (SFAppeal)

– Muni management study could be delayed by audit of farmers market (SF Appeal). “Everyone knows farmers’ markets are prime places for bureaucratic waste and government graft, and ergo must be investigated thoroughly …”

– Found in our submissions box: March against Muni?

– Let’s end with a little levity: Sirron Norris does Muni, with wings! (MissionMission)

Clicking around on Flickr, I found some cool photos of cable lines from many of you who are not yet in our Muni flickr group. So join up, add your Muni photos to the group pool, and enjoy these photos! Until next week…

Photo by Flickr user s__i

Photo by Flickr user Vanessa Elise

Photo by Flickr user danisabella

Photo by Flickr user karenchu121