SFMTA releases video of 19-Polk crash

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Update: Above, video of the crash (thx @ActionNewsSF):

Original post: The following is a press release from MTA spokesperson Judson True. It shows both the 19-Polk and the truck running their respective stop signs moments before slamming into each other.

The SFMTA today released video from the 19 Polk vehicle’s DriveCam system and its onboard video surveillance system. At approximately 12:05 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, this 19 Polk Muni bus traveling northbound on De Haro Street was involved in an accident with a truck traveling westbound on 18th Street.

The DriveCam video is provided as an attachment to the e-mail.

The onboard video can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/6Giiyi. The 164- megabyte file may take a few minutes to download. This video is also available on DVD; e-mail judson.true@sfmta.com to obtain a copy of it.

The video appears to show that the Muni bus rolled through its STOP sign on De Haro Street and the truck ran its STOP sign.

“Video is a tremendous help in our investigation of accidents like this one,” said Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., SFMTA Executive Director/CEO. “It is a vital tool that helps us improve Muni safety.”

The Muni Operator involved in the accident remains on non-driving status pending the outcome of the investigation.

DriveCam is a driver risk mitigation system that the SFMTA has installed in all of its trolley, biodiesel and biodiesel-electric hybrid buses, to help improve safety on the transit system. The DriveCam system records inside and outside the front of the bus to capture collisions or other driving behaviors. The cameras record and download a few seconds of footage before and after an incident when the vehicle experiences an exceptional force, such as hard braking or swerving. These recordings will be used for safety investigations and Operator instruction.

Because the files involved do not run on Macs, we’re providing the .wmv version of the video here. If anyone can convert this to .mov or upload to YouTube, let us know and we’ll embed it here. We watched it, and it’s clear that both vehicles are at fault.

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The king just got off the train

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From BART rider Mac:

This is the creepiest crazy guy I’ve shared a train with this decade (the teens). I think it was the rasputin hat and cane that made him so spooky. Also notice the vintage jordans.

We weren’t there, so no judgment. We just find the video highly entertaining, and thank Mac for sharing.

Have you seen things on BART lately worth sharing with the world? Let us know.

Category: BART, Funny: Muni LOLs Tags:

A Look Back on a Year of Muni Diaries

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Muni passes, 2009
Photo by Flickr user joshleejosh

In the last year we saw the ups and downs of transit-riding in San Francisco, marked by your Muni tales and pictures. 2009 was also the first calendar year that Muni Diaries was live. We saw major Muni service cuts and fare hikes, an iPhone app controversy, and a stepped-up proof-of-payment game from SFMTA. We also saw disturbing crimes on Muni ranging from iPhone thefts to a body found on the 5-Fulton in the bus yard, and the stabbing of a boy on his first solo Muni ride. And who can forget the infamous Muni humper?

But thanks to your submissions, we saw that riding the bus can also be a shared activity that makes us smile. I really couldn’t help but say “aaaw” when we received this photo of two very sleepy passengers leaning on a reluctant and awake third. Julie Michelle’s picture of kids playing a handheld game on Muni and the surprising waterfall at the Van Ness station are still some of my favorite posts.

At Muni Diaries, sometimes we get photos that really just need no caption, like one of Jeff’s favorite posts, Muni Say What? by Steve. From Jeff: “This photo perfectly illustrates what many riders (and readers) feel Muni thinks of them. It’s also just hilarious. You’re not allowed to disagree.”

As we’ve always said, Muni Diaries lives on your transit stories. Jeff pointed out a memorable diary titled, Muni driver going the opposite of rogue. From Jeff: “Now, from a literal standpoint, what the driver did was more aberrant than roguish. Never mind that. I just like the post because the driver shows that he’s human, a fact we forget all too often. Sometimes, rightly so.”

We ran some numbers on the site and here are the top posts that you viewed in 2009:

1. Muni Fisticuffs

2. Angry Oompa Loompa

3. Anyone got change for a five?

4. Interview with the woman who broke up the Muni fight

5. Hump and Run on the N-Judah

6. F-line crash on Market

Because Muni Diaries is all about your life on Muni — be it public transit issues or the random, sometimes poignant, more often than not annoying things that happen on Muni — we want to remind you to keep the stories coming! Whether it’s sharing your Muni soundtrack, pics of odd finds on the bus, or opinions on Muni news, we want to know.

We also want to know what your most memorable 2009 stories on Muni Diaries were. Let us know in comments.

We hope you enjoyed reading and submitting the stories as much as we did publishing them. And here’s to an even more thrilling roller coaster ride in 2010!

Category: diaries

19-Polk crash injures 9, including bus driver

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I couldn't Decide...
Photo by Flickr user Allio

Final update 11:45 a.m.: SF Appeal has MTA’s statement, which clarifies that both the bus driver and the driver of the truck suffered injuries that sent them to the hospital. Five passengers were also sent to the hospital, and two were treated on the scene, as originally reported.

Update 9:20 a.m.: The Examiner and NBC both say that the bus driver was among the injured. Consensus forming around that report, we’d say.

Update 8:01 a.m.: CBS 5 reports that the bus driver was among the injured. ABC 7 reports that the “driver” who was injured wasn’t the bus driver, but the driver of the truck. We’ll try to sort that out. Still, six bus passengers were sent to the hospital, and two passengers were treated at the scene.

Original post: SF Appeal and others are reporting an early morning crash involving a 19-Polk bus and a truck near 18th and De Haro (Potrero Hill neighborhood).

More details as they emerge.

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New Year Recovery

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Photo by Whole Wheat Toast

How’s 2010 on Muni treating you? Contributor Whole Wheat Toast sent us an account of his Muni ride on New Year’s Eve, and we’ve also received some…interesting NYE outfits spotted on Muni.

Whole Wheat Toast spotted a presidential-look-alike on his New Year’s Eve Muni ride and even met a Muni virgin. More from Whole Wheat Toast:

Happy New Year for everyone at the Muni Diaries! Firstly, may 2010 bring you no Muni Fails and utter fortune on the Muni! But, before that happens, of course there are some fails to talk about, right?

So, anyway, after the fireworks ended, I made my way towards the 1 bus stop at Drumm. However, by the time I got there, the bus was already leaving as it arrived. The driver didn’t want to take any chances on a break because traffic was already so bad. In fact, traffic was so bad that it took us twelve minutes to make it from the terminal down to Drumm and Sacramento.

After we made a right onto Sacramento, the operator had accidentally dropped the wires on the bus. So we were maneuvering pretty slowly, but faster than being stuck in traffic. The bus was already a bit half-full when we almost pulled over to Davis. That’s when a mob – literally – started to rush towards the bus. But the driver didn’t let anyone on, and some of us on the bus were cheering that we would be continuing on. However, the driver opened the back door, and the mob already on the bus groaned.

As the mob rushed up the back door, the driver attempted to make his way out the front door. For some reason, the door jammed, despite everyone heading towards the back, and it took him about a minute to force it open. He finally forced it open, and made his way towards the back of the bus to fix the wires. While he was doing that, the bus started to fill up even more! When he finally came back and turned on the power, the back door wouldn’t close because the bus was already so full someone had to step on the back door steps! But, eventually, the door closed miraculously despite having people still stepping on the back door. The mob on the bus cheered and we were on our way…

Read more of his account here.

Got any more tales and pics from the new year? Let us know!

Rider Joseph spotted some revealing fashion on the N on New Year’s Eve. Photo after the jump.

Read more

Category: diaries, Funny: Muni LOLs, WTF: Weirdness on Muni Tags: , ,

Who says your kid won’t look good in Muni?

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Just in time for Christmas!

Coming off the heels of this post on BART Diaries, we couldn’t help but notice these adorable toddler tees adorned with (you guessed it) Muni art!

How cute. No, really.

According to the site, New Skool “is owned and designed by Bay Area Designer and Graffiti Artist Nate1 MPC,” and designs “kids and adult clothing for the Hip Hop minded.” What better intersection for hip hop than everybody’s least-favorite pubic transportation agency?

There’s more toddler and infant wares to be had, and some neat art with Muni in it. So head over to New Skool today. And feel free to tell ’em what sent ya.

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