Who Rants About Commuting More: Boston vs SF?

You might think Muni riders reign supreme when it comes to ranting about our public transportation, but rider Andy C sent over a tip: Bostonians put the T in hateraid. According to Andy:

The Metropolitan Massachusetts Boston Transit Authority recently started selling MBTA-themed gear (a way to close a budget gap?). Based on some rider suggestions to the Boston Globe, it would appear that Muni’s problems are unique.


In response to the MBTA’s online store, the Boston Globe challenged their readers to come up with slogans for transit-themed goods. The Boston Globe’s Top 25 Readers’ T Slogans sound a little like how we talk about Muni: “Raising Your Blood Pressure since 1964” and “America’s First Subway and Still Operating Like It.”

Ouch.

Got some merchandise ideas for Muni? Comment away!

About those ladybugs on the N-Judah Monday

ladybugs

On Monday, we ran a photo and micro-story by @sunaena about ladybugs running wild on the N-Judah. Today, Marta reports on the incident in deeper detail:

Just when you think you’ve seen it all… a guy drops (accidentally or intentionally was unclear) a container with hundreds of ladybugs on a packed train during rush hour.

No one attempted to recapture the bugs right away, so they proceeded to start crawling all of the floor, walls, ceiling… and people.

Some started smashing them with their feet, and when the guy who released the bugs got off the train and there was more space, a sweet young girl started trying to sweep them back into the container so they could be released outside. So if this was some kind of social experiment… at least there are some people with a heart out there for creatures large and small.

I was reminded to submit this story when a ladybug crawled out of my bag this morning. No joke.

So now you know.

Meanwhile, on @munidiaries


Photo by @amber_kit

The @munidiaries Twitter feed runneth over with the ins and outs of your daily commute. Blink and you might miss @amber_kit‘s picture of a man who brought his own seating on the bus (above). In case you aren’t a Twitter fiend like we and @munidiaries‘ 3300+ followers are, we’ve picked out this week’s best tweets.

Meanwhile, on @munidiaries:

@bryceyadolphson: If the hipster with the open mouth coffee mug spills on me… its gonna be Battle: SF.

@rockbandit: Homeless dude on Muni now giving tickets to women for “being too pretty.”

@ladue: Last night on the 22 bus, a crazy woman got on and proceeded to take up the entire front row of seats with her teddy bears. #muni

@lifebeginsat30#Muni driver just cutely picked me up in the middle of the block. He: “You looked at me, you smiled, I had to give in.”

@andreaprete: Forgot my crochet stuff so today on Muni I’m gonna imagine who on the train can wear a bow tie w/o looking like a tool.

Follow us on Twitter and tweet your Muni ride to @munidiaries. Your tweet might end up here next week!

Scratching an itch on Muni


Photo by purpletwinkie

Katie posted a story on her Tumblr blog (A Streetcar Called Taraval) that had me covering my face in laughter and horror. Read on:

So I’m riding a 71 from downtown with my boyfriend. At Sixth street, a woman begs the driver, “I don’t have any money, I just need to go to the hospital!” The driver doesn’t have time for her story, so he lets her on without fare. She sits in the designated seating, spread across three seats. She’s wearing an ankle-length skirt. She has a stained T-shirt stretched over pendulous breasts that reach her navel. She has a shock of bright pink hair and is about 5’3” and 350. It’s late December, and she’s smiling and wishing a Merry Christmas to all of the riders.

All the locals summarily ignore her because we’re used to sixth street crazies on the bus. Then she starts itching her leg. She works her skirt up a little bit and claws at her calf. Whatever. A couple of tourists get on the bus with their muni 3-day passports. They look like a young couple from New England. The woman wishes them a drunk “Merrrrry Christmuss!!” and smiles. They awkwardly exchange a holiday greeting back. This woman has since moved on to itching her inner knee…. Her skirt is hiked up a little bit more, so she can reach it. She’s still overflowing with holiday cheer.

Finish reading Katie’s story on A Streetcar Called Taraval.

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