Cubbie the Cable Car

Rider Erik alerted us to a preschooler series called “Cubbie the Cable Car,” where the cable car is the star of the show. Erik says this series is home to “the humorous adventures of Cubbie and his friends as they ferrry people up, down and all around 1890 San Francisco.” So, parents, take note: it’s never too early to groom your children to be future transit fans.

Thanks, Erik!

[Warning: TV-Y (All Children — This program is designed to be appropriate for all children.) The themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience, including children from ages 2-6, and may be unsuitable for adult Muni riders. This program is not expected to frighten younger children, but it may frighten young urbanites. We apologize that this program does not contain any of the following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language (L). For programming containing V, S, or L content categories, please visit Muni Diaries.]

Video diary: Catching the Z train


Video by Flickr user Mike Monteiro

We asked a few weeks ago for a show of hands: Who’s fallen asleep on Muni? It’s not like a major confession or anything. Amid the racket and ruckus that often defines our public transit system, some of us (I’d bet a lot more than would admit) doze off from time to time.

Like the fella in the video above. I really love his rocking motion. Even as adults, we’re basically infants. Sweet dreams, merry F passenger.

Sunday FAIL: 22-Fillmore Wheelchair Lift Busts Fire Hydrant

Sunday’s 22-Fillmore accident is like a really bad Rube Goldberg situation. We’ve got a customer falling out of the wheelchair lift, sustaining unknown injuries, then 20 minutes later the bus lurches forward and the wheelchair lift nails a fire hydrant, lifting it off the sidewalk, hitting a Muni inspector, and flooding the area.

From SFMTA’s official statement:

At approximately 5:45 p.m., a customer exiting a 22 Fillmore electric trolley bus fell from the extended wheelchair lift of the vehicle, which was stopped (pointed southbound) on Fillmore Street at Haight Street (the northwest corner).

The customer was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.

At approximately 6:05 p.m., the Muni bus moved forward and the wheelchair lift hit a fire hydrant and sheared it from the sidewalk.  The cause of the bus’s movement is under investigation.

The fire hydrant reportedly struck a Muni Inspector who had responded to the incident.  The Inspector was treated at the scene.

Water from the hydrant reportedly caused flooding in at least one nearby building.

The intersection of Haight/Fillmore was closed by the SFPD and Muni buses serving the 6 Parnassus, 71 Haight-Noriega and 22 Fillmore were re-routed around the affected area.

Per normal procedure, the Muni Operator will be placed on non-driving status and tested for drugs and alcohol.

The scene cleared and regular Muni service was restored at 7:35 p.m.

Matt Baume and Eve Batey at SFAppeal put together a great report on the incident, complete with a slideshow (above). Someone from the city was handing out claim forms to people who own buildings or stores in the area, Matt reports.

Balloon Circus on the 49

A couple of days ago I posted about weird cargo on Muni, and Muni Diaries readers don’t disappoint! Commenters reported seeing a bed (headboard included), 8′ weather stripping, a sitar, and a walnut veneer speaker.

Today we received a short video clip from rider Mathieu, who spotted a lady carrying a whole zoo of balloon animals on the 49. Wonder where she’s going…

Thanks, Mathieu!

Got photos or videos of strange cargo or other happenings on the bus? You know where to send it.

Record Your Muni Trip on Your iPhone

We found via our Twitter feed that developer Aaron Tait has just made a new iPhone app called Muni Diary (unrelated, but we know a good name when we see one). You can use the app to record the lines you’ve been on and what happened on your bus ride.

Check out Muni Diary at the Apple App store! Link here. And if you’d like to write a review of this app for Muni Diaries, shoot us an email and let us know. muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.

Metallica Sing-Along on Muni

Hey metal heads, rider Steve L. sent us this video clip of two teenagers singing enthusiastically to Metallica’s Master of Puppets on the bus. Turn up the volume and watch the above video…

From Steve:

My bf and I were on the bus the other night and the two teenagers next to us, who seemingly just got off work from Popeye’s maybe, were loudly singing along to Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.” It was amazing. Apologies for shitty sound quality.

Steve, we’re glad to have the video nonetheless! In case you’re not familiar with the awesomeness that is Metallica, here they are performing the song live:

All together now: “Come crawling faster…obey your master…” <hair thrashing optional>

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