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I knew that I'd eventually be a part of a Muni car accident, and today that inclination became a reality. Only a few yards away from my stop, a woman pulled out of an alley right into the rear of the bus I was on.
I saw the whole thing happen in slow motion and literally braced myself before the contact. It's funny the things that go through your head right before an accident. "Is she serious?" "What is that lady doing?" "OMG, she's going to hit us!" And finally, my classic thought/saying, "Really?"
Anyway, no one was hurt thankfully, and I'm still staring out of my office window at the woman's front end of her car which is now resting on the pavement.
Dear Muni,
Why didn't you warn me that today was the day all of the people in SF who talk to invisible people would be riding the bus? If I knew beforehand that I would be engulfed by this today, I would have taken a cab or better yet worked from home. Although most of the 30-minute commute was traumatizing and depressing, I must admit I did learn I a lot.
I learned that one man wants to kill someone for stealing his hat. I learned another man wanted to take a shower because he just got out of jail for not doing anything. I also learned the same man who just got out of jail was currently "drunk and wasted" which was a big shocker to me!! The last man I had the pleasure of "talking to" this morning was regurgitating the announcements on the bus in song as Darth Vader. His rendition of "Please move to the rear of the bus." was my personal favorite.
All in all, the most valuable lesson I learned today was that no matter how long I live in the city, I will never be 100% used to those that talk to their invisible friends/enemies. But please...next time a warning would be nice.
This week the production of Milk, Gus Van Sant's biofilm about Harvey Milk (you may have heard about it) moved north a block toward Market Street. The first of the march scenes was filmed tonight (February 4) and they'll be closing up the street again this Friday to wrap it up. (For a copy of the funny clothing guidelines for march extras, head over to this post on Towleroad. In case you were going to pull out your Disco Stu costume, think again!)
Down toward 19th Street, the location of Given which had been transformed into Milk's old Castro Camera has begun its return to the 21st century. The outside signs have come down, and the interior has begun to be disassembled.
In the window they've displayed a photo of the original store interior which they apparently used to guide the set dressing. The Gaycities.com travel blog has a great shot of the photo propped up against the set during the construction, and this really shows how the crew was shooting for historical accuracy. Now the photo is in the window and easier to inspect closely.
Across the street, Swirl is already back to normal and open for business (although the old sign is still up). It's actually stunning how quickly they were able to transform this place with shelving, moved walls, exterior work, etc. and then just as quickly put it back to normal. As someone who has struggled through a monster renovation which has overtaken our lives completely for the last 4 years of our lives, I'm actually incredibly bitter about this, but I'm trying to work through this. My partner also reminds me that the Swirl renovation was all for show and wouldn't pass code, but still, I want my shower back!
The newly-opened Lisa's Hair Design has lost its awning and has been made over into Alda Yarn. Nothing says the 70's like knit vests.
Quickly, the bubble-tea purveyor made infamous by our dearly-departed supervisor Ed Jew, is made up as a real estate agent's office. If you want to be depressed, go check out the posted listings closely.
Also on that side of the street, The Bead Store had its awning taken down, but is otherwise unchanged. I guess it has retained enough of its woo-woo, 70's, earth-mother styling that it fit into the movie just fine. Likewise, Twin Peaks looks untouched since the 70's -- and coincidentally the same thing could be said about many of its customers. (Hey-oh! These are the jokes people! I'll be here all week!)
Finally, this isn't a business, but the Muni stop has been shielded by wooden structures. I guess it would be hard to explain the presence of a "Harvey Milk Plaza" in the background of the movie. It would kind of give away the ending.
I called the paint job gaudy and garish before, but I have to admit that it looks pretty nice now that it's done. Thanks Gus!
OAKLAND, Calif. - Some 230 BART riders are participating in a technology trial that allows them to use a mobile phone to pay their fare.
The four-month trial began Tuesday, and Bay Area Rapid Transit officials said it is the first of its kind in the United States. Consumers in Asia already use the technology, known as Near Field Communication, to pay for public transit and to check in at airport security gates.
The system will allow riders to open fare gates by passing their specially equipped phones over a sensor. Riders also automatically will get a BART discount when using the technology.
so far this trail is being done with Sprint phones and it's through a partnership with Jack in the box - talk about getting "fast" food
The recent service is beyond sucking. My boss this morning took a WRONG turn. Then a few blocks later the driver stopped in the middle of a block to chat to a friend he saw walking by. For real.
When I got to work I was inspired to make this shirt. Jamison, the King Of Muni, said I should post it here.
You can buy them and stuff.
Mike
I was totally surprised today when I rode the ferry from San Francisco's Ferry building up to Sausalito - a pretty pleasant and quick 35-minute ride - and realized that by using my Translink card, I was given a $3.35 discount on my fare. That's kick-ass. And, they give you a Muni transfer on the way back. Good stuff. Yet another transit agency that's way more responsive than BART. They even responded to my email about bringing the dog on the ferry in about one hour (sorry folks: service dogs or dogs in bags only).
Now, if they can only get a ferry running from Oakland to Marin...anything besides the lame 40/42 Golden Gate transit that runs hourly between San Rafael and El Cerrito Del Norte BART.
Rather than exploring alternative revenue sources to meet an unsurprising budget shortfall, BART went ahead with a bizarre PR stunt this week, putting out a video on their ersatz social-media (no comments allowed) Bart TV website, stating that they're planning to cut wait times (Monday-Saturday after 7 p.m.) from 20 to 15 minutes.
At the end of the VNR, spokesperson Linton Johnson states that most of the project is on hold until they can recoup most of the $900,000 reduction in state budget money that they lost in this recent decision. All of this is dependent on the state's allocation of $1.5 million of state transportation assistance funds they expected to get. BART spokesman Linton Johnson
The good news: BART plans (January 2008) to offer $6 overnight airport parking at Daly City, Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno and Milbrae.
So, I have been reading up on all Bay area transit agencies' attempts to gain compliance with the Translink card, digitally speaking. Over the course of the next two months, I'm going to attempt to make a Translink contact at every agency.
So far, I'm having a bit of trouble with BART, so any reader reccomendations would be helpful. I did the Tour For the Cure 50K ride this morning on the Peninsula, and came across a pamphlett from the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition - good to know there's some serious cash behind bike-friendly municipal planning down that way. I sure long for the day when I can bike to work - I've got the bike-friendly worplace, but the Bay Bridge won't be ready for 2 years, at least.
I saw some interesting literature on the proposed East Bay BRT (bus rapid transit) corridor yesterday, which I'll post a link to this week.
Interesting article on MUNI's under-funded woes in SFGate this morning.
Some recent changes in signage in the Castrohood:
- SF MUNI has installed these new signs in the Castro underground station, and judging from the comments people have already been left, a lot of you don't like them. I actually like the font and the use of lowercase for the header words "castro" and "outbound," but the "Boarding Zone" looks like it was designed by an entirely different committee.
I wish they had installed signs like the ones that they have on train platforms in Japan, which give the names of the next station in either direction. Here's an example which I took from jpellgen's Flickr stream:
Not that our train system is so complicated, but when you are riding an unfamiliar line it is very comforting to know where you are headed next.
- And speaking of signs, DeLano's IGA has finally removed the outside Cala signs are replaced them with the new name:
Signs on the inside of the store have also been updated.
- Probably the best sign I've seen in a while is in the window of the yard-sale-like store which occupies the space which was Lot'sa Stuff which was Browser's Nook. According to signs in the window, right after the "big sale" this retail melange is "closing soon."
Although the store started out with a specialty in posters, its stock has been evolving and now funky peasant handbags, colorful scarves, and huge nativist wood carvings (no joke) fill the window. What is it about this space that only attracts these crazy, thrift-shop, do-it-yourself stores?
