Bus Jam on Market
If you’re waiting for a bus and don’t see one coming, Guy, who sent us the photo here, has an idea where it might be…
What did you see on or around the bus today? Send us your tales or drop a photo in our Flickr pool!
Your place to share stories on and off the bus.
If you’re waiting for a bus and don’t see one coming, Guy, who sent us the photo here, has an idea where it might be…
What did you see on or around the bus today? Send us your tales or drop a photo in our Flickr pool!
Photo by Sam Craig
I can understand that Muni drivers sometimes need to pop out real quick for a bathroom break , but buying a lotto ticket? Really? Rider Donna C. sent us this email:
Just before 1 p.m., I was riding the #5 Fulton towards downtown when the muni driver pulled over at Fulton & Masonic, jumped out, grabbed a lotto ticket from the stand just outside the Fulton Food Shop, went inside to the cashier, opened his wallet, and presumably played his lotto ticket. There was an audible gasp among the passengers on the packed bus – no one could believe what they were seeing. He came out of the store, and got back on the bus as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. I called in a formal complaint to muni – we’ll see what comes of it. I asked for someone to report back to me.
Drivers just can’t catch a break this week, it seems.
Photo by Jesse Johnson
In this week’s Muni news:
We have extended the deadline to the Endanger Bus photo contest! As it turns out, the bus wraps are going to be staying up a little longer, so here’s your chance to catch the buses in action and win $150 and publication in Bay Nature magazine.
Oh and did you see the great picture from 1968 on Muni Time Capsule? Check it out.
Enjoy these photos and your weekend!
Photo by Ben Soto
Photo by xMurMurx
Photo by Alexandra Jones
Photo by Mona T. Brooks
I really consider myself a novice as well. What I do is really simple and self-taught. The only editing tool I use is the freebie part of Picnic found here on Flickr. I play around with all the editing choices and often I’ll spend a lot of time on one photo. When I come home from taking photos and I upload them on my computer, I usually choose one photo that really calls out to me. I have to look “in” that photo and not just at it. I try to keep all uninteresting or distracting elements out of the photo. Composition and then cropping are the most important thing for me – more important than special effects.
You can see more of Mark’s photos below and on his Flickr stream.
Got photos of Muni? Don’t forget our Muni Photos Flickr pool.
Photo by R.Henry Goins
Timos sent us this great story about the time when the purpose of his yarmulke was questioned by a fellow rider. Read on.
Tuesday was a good day. I didn’t have to work, I had finished the massive overhaul of cleaning my room and I had just finished three excellent crispy tacos from El Faro in the Financial District. I was feeling pretty good.
I walked down to Market street to catch the 6 or 71 to meet my cousin to help her run errands. When the 6 finally showed up, I got on, tapped my clipper card and sat down, listening to music and checking my favorite blogs on my phone.
After a few more stops had gone by, I became aware that the large woman sitting across from me was staring me down. Hard. Like the way a dog looks at a bone. I smiled awkwardly at her and she motioned for me to take out my headphones. I obliged and she pointed at the yarmulke my head and loudly asked “What up wit’ yo’ little hat?”
Now, as a modern, liberal, San Franciscan Jew, I don’t ever really wear the head covering prescribed by the Torah. But every now and then (and since Passover is just a week away) I feel the need to connect with my roots. Go to Temple, wear my kippah and tallit, make myself feel extra Jewy.
So, how do I answer her politely? The bus was surprisingly crowded for the middle of the day, and I detest questions like these because religious practices are weird to talk about in public.
“It’s a kippah,” I tell her. “A head covering to remind Jews that God is above them.”
She nodded, satisfied with my answer. But she had more questions. “So, you’s a Jew then?”
I nodded.
“So, you don’t believe that Jesus died for yo’ sins?”
Crap. Just what I was afraid of. While I am proud about my heritage, I am not well-schooled in defending my faith. And certainly not on a public bus full of people staring uncomfortably at us while my stomach growls loudly because I just crammed down five tacos and a coke.
“Jews have a lot of different ideas about Jesus, but for the most part, no, we don’t believe that.”
Her eyes widened. “But what you gonna do when you die? Wit-out Jesus, you go to hell!” It was almost a plea. Truthfully, although I was annoyed at this conversation, I couldn’t help but feel a little touched. She seemed genuinely afraid for my soul, and she wasn’t being accusatory or belligerent. Over zealous maybe, but I was getting the feeling it came from a good place.
This led to us having a startling meaningful conversation about faith, and how different religions are better for different people. I learned that she was born and raised in San Francisco, and had been homeless for years. Using drugs, alcohol and her own body as a weapon of escape, she cleaned up her act with the help of a church. She now had a job, didn’t steal and was in the process of reconnecting with her family from whom she was estranged.
I told her about my family, my own crazy childhood, and how I also used my faith to pull me out of some dark times. It turns out she and I had a lot in common. As the bus made the left turn off Haight and on to Masonic, I stood up, thanking her for the conversation.
“I ain’t met a Jew before,” she told me as I swung my backpack around my shoulder. “But you seem like a chill people. You’s a good kid, honey. Keep up the good work.”
I hugged her, and told her people like her give Christians a good name. I got off the bus and started walking down Masonic. A homeless guy at the stop for the 43 line asked me for some change, but I apologized; I didn’t have any to give.
“Fucking kyke!” He yelled at me. I sighed.
Just another day in San Francisco.
Photo by Art Institute of Chicago
Over the Twitter wires, via @ErinNorton, comes this gem from Media Bistro about how the Art Institute of Chicago has placed thrones on various rail lines around town. The institute then asked riders to take photos of themselves sitting in the decorated seats and submit them to the school’s Facebook page for a chance to win a free museum tour.
ErinNorton asked the obvious question: “can someone please do this for SF muni?” Hear that, SFMOMA?
Instead, Muni riders have been taking the matter of creative seating on public transit into their own hands. And god bless them, too.