Making Connections

M Connects with L
Photo by Telstar Logistics

A few paragraphs into the heartbreaking story of 28-year-old Alicia Parlette, who’s been suffering a rare and aggressive form of cancer and recently decided to end treatment, I was struck by her sentiment about public transportation. Parlette, who met her boyfriend on BART, said:

“I always wanted to meet someone on public transportation. All these people are riding to and from work, and they’re all looking at their iPods. Why can’t they be looking at each other?”

Exactly. I’m not sure that iPods are entirely to blame, but we do seem to have more gadgets to keep us from making conversation with one another. But the best stories on Muni Diaries — at least my favorite ones — happen when people break out of their shells and talk to fellow passengers. We even have a few friends who met their spouses on public transit: Lisa and Nick, who met on BART and are now expecting their first child; Eric, who met his wife on the 22-Fillmore (See? Miracles do happen); and then there’s a never-ending stock of potential hook-ups in Muni Missed Connections.

And while people might say that iPods and smart phones are getting in the way of making connections, these gadgets can be a conversation starter, too. A few months ago, we set out on the bus one day to ask people what they were listening to and made a Muni playlist. Creating a snippet of the day’s soundtrack on Muni was so much fun because passengers enthusiastically shared their music choices with us, and we got to report a slice of life on Muni, which is always what we’re looking for.

Sure, there’s a lot to complain about on Muni — we see it on Twitter all the time. But we know that riding the bus can be so many other things, too. Sometimes friendships and relationships emerge from these chance encounters; other times, you just get to know someone you share this city with for a few minutes, then you’re both off to whatever adventure lies next. So, the next time you see people break out of their self-imposed cocoons of isolation on Muni and actively engaging with fellow passengers, let us know. Tell us your stories.

Truck, M-Ocean View collide head-on at Randolph and Arch (update)

Update (3:53 p.m.): Chris tells us full service has resumed in this area.

Original post: Yet another “it just hasn’t been Muni’s day” post.

Rider Christopher Rogers tells us of an afternoon head-on collision between an M-Ocean View light-rail and a truck. According to Chris, there were no injuries. But the vehicles seem to have been damaged up real bad.

Chris adds: “They’re running shuttle buses on the outbound M route as of right now. LRVs are running inbound, though.”

Thanks, Chris!

On the air at 5 p.m. today: Muni serendipity

morning's time to get to work.
Photo by Julie Michelle of i live here:SF. Julie’s part of an photo opening tonight at Secession Gallery.

I’m doing something really fun today at 5 p.m., but before I tell you what it is, I’ve got to thank Muni for hooking me up:

Two Fridays ago, I was on the 27 with a friend when a man got on the bus with an arm load of dry cleaning he just picked up. With one hand holding his cell phone to his ear and the other holding his dry cleaning, the man casually hung his clothes on the metal hand rail and sat in front of us, the whole time talking on his cell. My friend and I thought it was a really cute and funny thing to do, and this made us and another passenger chuckle. This passenger took out his cell phone to take a few pictures of the laundry hanging in front of us, so of course I told him all about Muni Diaries and asked him to send me the photos, which we posted here.

The passenger, Mike, turned out to be a writer who was on his way to Pirate Cat Radio to talk about his work. Later that evening, I found that Mike had told Pirate Cat Radio’s Pam Benjamin about Muni Diaries, and Pam was kind enough to email me to introduce herself.

And today at 5 p.m., I’ll be at Pirate Cat Cafe talking to Pam and Diamond Dave on their program, Common Threads, about Muni Diaries! How meta is that? Please listen if you get the chance.

Busted N-Judah Tunnel the Result of Copper Wire Theft? (w/updates)

N Judah
Photo by Flickr user Ce nest pas un JB.

Update (4:16 p.m.): KCBS has confirmed that the troubles this morning in the Sunset Tunnel were, in fact, caused by the theft overnight of copper wires.

Update (11:44 a.m.): MTA says rail service has resumed, but they’re keeping shuttles in place “until service is restored.” We’ll let you figure out WTF that means.

Also, rider Nic sends us this report and photo:

I knew it was bad the moment I got on the nearly empty train this morning. The driver says “For those of you who just got on, I have some bad news.” The news was that I was going to be late. The Sunset Tunnel was out of service. Good times.

Got a picture of the first of two transfers at Hillway.

Update (11:27 a.m.): Brian Brooks has photos from this morning’s scene:

N-Judah Meltdown

N-Judah Meltdown

Read more

I Dream of Muni: Fantasy Fare Inspector

OMG, shoes
Photo by Flickr user WarzauWynn

Muni worked its way into the subconscious mind of Andrea of Hula Sunset. Also starring in this episode are Hubby, fare inspector, and Mom. Why does Mom always show up at the most inopportune places in dreams?

Hubby and I were going to catch the F-Market from our house to go to work. We got to the platform and I realized that my Fast Pass wasn’t in the little pocket of my purse where I usually keep it. It was in the jacket pocket, and of course I had left that jacket at home. Being that we’re way too poor to pay a fine should a POP officer request to see our POP, we decided to not take the train to work, but rather take the train home.

While we’re on the train two things happen. 1) my mom is on the train 2 seats ahead of us, notices us and gets all mad that we didn’t ride the train with her in the first place, and 2) we realize how stupid we are riding the train because we don’t have POP and it doesn’t matter that we’re going home to get my Fast Pass instead of going to work.

Sure enough, the fare inspectors get on the train. When they get to Hubby and me I explain to the nice POP lady what happened, and thank her for not being my least favorite fare inspector who I’m sure is out to get me, and I ask her where my favorite fare inspector is, y’know, the really large friendly lesbian with a crew cut — tough but friendly and fair. She smiles and walks away.

No ticket for me. Thanks dream-inspector.

Hubby and I get off the train and I don’t remember anything else except for a weird stairway, some kids playing lemonade checkers, and my mom giving me crap again for not riding the bus with her.

Yup, we dig Muni dreams. I’m still waiting to dream the one where Lou from Hot Tub Time Machine and I ride the 38 to save the world, whacking zombies with golf clubs along the way. Come on, REM sleep, you can do it!

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