Tag: BART-etiquette

Mannerly must-have for Muni riders: letterpress etiquette cards

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letterpress bus etiquette muni diaries by huneymungerdontcare

Someone found a classy way to complain about a very annoying habit on Muni — those damn backpacks! Direct from the Muni Diaries Instagram inbox, artist Emma Munger sends us her very first letter press project:bus etiquette cards. Emma says:

My first letterpress project is something I can hand out to the dickheads of public transportation #takemycard

No, please, for the love of god, take her card.

Inconsiderate backpack carriers on Muni have been called a lot of names — turtles, for example — in our transit-riding community. You hate having backpacks bumping into you so much that our very first Spanish submission was about this universal pet peeve.

The powers that be assure us that they’re aware. A lot of ink has been spilled about how you should just take the damn thing off on a crowded bus. BART made a PSA about it. It’s the number two complaint from Muni riders (can you guess what numero uno is?). But that has yet to translate into common commute courtesy.

Check out Emma’s online store of her other very cool work.

Psst: are you a podcast fan? Hear our live stories on the new Muni Diaries podcast! Find us on iTunes and Google Play.

Category: Funny: Muni LOLs Tags: , ,

BART’s Rush Hour Bike Ban Ends Monday

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bart bike by sfbike
Photo by sfbike

Starting Monday, BART is lifting its rush hour ban on bikes for a trial period of five months before deciding whether the change will be permanent. You might remember that BART’s board of directors voted in May to lift the rush hour bike ban.

Allowing bikes on trains during rush hour will apply to all stations at all hours. According to current BART rules for morning commutes, bikes are allowed in the Embarcadero Station only for trips to the East Bay. Currently, during evening commute hours, bicyclists traveling from the East Bay must exit at the Embarcadero Station. Bikes also cannot enter or exit 12th Street and 19th Street Oakland stations during rush hour according to the current rules.
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Category: BART, News Tags:

No, No, Don’t Get Up: Cozy on BART

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So, this guy. Perhaps the most This Guy of all This Guys on BART.

Snapped this one later in the 6-o’clock hour: toward the end of the evening rush. The train wasn’t sardines-crowded, but there were several people entering, exiting, and standing around.

In other words, maybe don’t sit like this on BART, in the interest of seat-having for fellow passengers.

Category: BART Tags:

Sausage, anyone?

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Sign.
Photo by checkerboard_secrets

A couple of Saturdays ago, I happily boarded BART at 24th and Mission to head downtown for some serious shopping. I was flying solo, the sun was shining, Anthropologie was calling my name…I was happy.

I stepped onto BART, surveyed the seat situation, and chose a row right in front of the door between the cars. I moved to the inside seat, trying to be a considerate BART rider.

At 16th and Mission a shabbily dressed man boarded the car and plopped down right next to me with force, taking up more than his allotted seat. I edged closer to the wall. He rummaged through his bevy of plastic bags until he found what he was searching for: an ancient-looking, jumbo-size can of Vienna Sausages. With a pop that lid was off, and sausage juice began to fly–some towards me even! I moved as far away as I could from this man as he went to town on his snack. He methodically whipped out each sausage, one-by-one, shaking the excess juice around the car and licking his fingers.

I really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’ve smelled worse and seen worse…but this was the first (and hopefully only) time that cold Vienna Sausage juice had been flung in my direction.

This dude was almost done with his snack when we pulled into Powell and I politely said “Excuse me” so I could get past him. He was visibly irritated to have his dinner interrupted in such a way. I was visibly irritated to have been showered with drops of processed meat juice.

Back out in the sunshine, I shook it off (no pun intended) and proceeded to enjoy my shopping trip. No point in crying over spilled sausage juice, right?

Category: BART Tags: ,

How NOT to go through BART fare gates

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Zombie Fare
Photo by Flickr user Orin Zebest

BART rider Beth W. writes in to proffer these suggestions, no-nos you might call them, for passing through fare gates:

* Meander up to the exit, block one of the gates, and then fumble around in your pockets/bag/etc. for your ticket.
* Go through the gates quickly and successfully, then stop walking once the red plastic bits close behind you. For bonus points, start
talking on your cell phone.
* Try to go through one of the gates showing a red circle with a bar through it. Look confused when it doesn’t work. Keep trying.
* Try to get through the gates with an invalid ticket. Get irate when the machine beeps at you. Attempt to slide it through 5 or 6 more times.
* Slide your ticket into the slot for the disabled exit, then try to pick up your ticket from the (nonexistent) spot on top of the machine. If you were in a wheelchair, could you reach up there? No? Then that isn’t where your ticket is.
* Go through the gates with a large suitcase or stroller. Get stuck. Eye passersby pleadingly for help.
* Push your bicycle through the fare gates. Watch as the red gate closes on your bicycle.
* Pay with an exact fare, then throw a tantrum when the machine doesn’t give your ticket back.

    What are your favorite BART fare-gate fails? Share.

    Category: BART Tags:

    Manners — Muni vs. BART

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    BART / MUNI
    Photo by Flickr user myelectricsheep

    This post from BART and Muni rider “E” is cross-posted on Muni Diaries, which you should be reading also …

    Because of a knee injury, this week I had to take the T line to Embarcadero BART station for my daily trans-Bay commute (rather than bike as I usually do because it’s faster, more convenien, and comfortable than riding Muni). While I’m thankful to have the public transportation option, I had to notice once again how incredibly rude Muni riders are in comparison to BART users.

    1) Smoking marijuana right on the station platform
    2) Spitting on the platform
    3) Blocking the doorway
    4) Talking extremely loudly on cell phones
    5) Loudly telling offensive stories about drugs and sex
    6) Urinating or otherwise soiling train
    7) Putting feet on seats
    8) Letting animals sit on seats
    9) Calling me a “fucking bitch” and threatening to kick me when I asked the man to pick up his dog.

    After the last incident, I walked up to a police officer in our car to ask for help and he just told me, “I’m getting off here”. Having to ride with the threatening dog owner after the police officer refused to help me was awkward, to say the least.

    Why does riding Muni always feel like being taken hostage by rude, dirty, and threatening people while everyone else just looks the other way — including the police? BART doesn’t feel that way.

    I’ll be glad to get back on my bike.

    Category: BART Tags:
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