Muni Diaries

Photo by AJ Batac

In a major blow to aspiring pop stars, the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is considering new law that would make it illegal to sing or otherwise perform music aboard its city buses. According to the Toronto Sun, anyone who sings, busks, or plays musical instruments aboard transit vehicles could face a fine of $100 plus court costs under the proposed bylaw.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz told the paper the law is intended to prevent disturbances, noting that it “is important for people to enjoy their trip on public transit.”

Must be nice when your biggest transit problem is impromptu concerts.

Though bleary-eyed commuters here in SF might have taken solace in this law during a kid-powered recorder performance on the bus (true story), you will take our FLUTE CANE CONCERTS or our Pantera covers from our cold dead hands.

Read more about the Winnipeg bus proposal.

Photo by The Japan Times

Who cares about the many bars near Muni Metro stops when you’re enjoying a beer from inside the Muni Metro vehicle?

That dream is a reality for residents of Nagasaki, Japan.

Once a year for the last 20 years, a private company has run a tram along city tracks, offering its passengers drinks both alcoholic and non.

With counter seats facing the windows, passengers are allowed to drink all they want from a range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and even enjoy a meal. The car will run the Nagasaki city tracks once a day until Sept. 20.

Since the streetcar fleet offering a “refreshing beer” debuted more than 20 years ago, the service has grown in popularity, prompting the firm to extend the run by 20 days.

A beer would surely help during those insufferable Metro tunnel delays. But I guess we just can’t have nice things?

h/t Jeremy Whiteman (to the Muni Diaries Facebook page)