As any cyclist or bus driver on Market Street and they will tell you, this street sucks.  Bikes and buses compete for limited lanes, and cars and taxis compound the situation.  Throw in the cheese-grater BART vents and throngs of pedestrians, and voila!  San Francisco’s most important street is stuck in congestion and a major safety hazard.

Pundits and politicians have debated reconfiguring Market Street for years.  The SF Bike Coalition has a page summarizing the history, and the SF County Transportation Authority authored a comprehensive report in 2004 with a plethora of recommendations for near-, mid- and long-term implementation.  Some of the ideas included brightly-painted bike lanes, forced right turns for cars, and running Muni in only the center lanes (as opposed to the current configuration of some buses in the center lanes, some in the curb lanes).

Forces seem to be converging to actually make changes this time.  Supervisor Chris Daly recently introduced legislation to ban cars on Market from Castro to the Embarcadero.  The Bike Coalition has a working group to try and make it happen.

In the meantime, here are some videos showing conceptual designs.  Option 1 maintains auto access in the curb lane only, but with forced right turns. Transit is in the center lane and bikes (and limited cars) are in the curb lane. This would require essentially no construction, just paint.

Option 2 would ban auto access on Market Street. Transit would be in the center lanes, and both directions of bike traffic would share the southern lane. The northern lane would become an extension of the sidewalk for extra pedestrian space (requiring some construction).

High-quality videos of Option 1 and Option 2 are available on Youtube.

Come to the next SF Bike Coalition Market Street meeting! 6:30 pm on January 13, 995 Market Street #1550.

MGW has been nursing a municipal hangover since Bay to Breakers, but has lurched back to life with great news: 

SF Streetsblog is up and running!  Check it daily for the latest on what’s happening in our fair city.

Given that we now have a professional blog posting all things Muni, exactly what role MGW will play in the future remains to be seen.  Stay tuned…

Good work team! The bus powered up the hill despite crush loads and severe congestion. As far as we know, the only casualties were one wheel and the tap to the keg.

Thanks to the munipal-quality construction work, Muni Gone WILD will definitely be back next year, WILDER than ever! Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 17. Same time, same place.

Please email your photos in to info@munigonewild.com

Proud MGW contributors Nina Swanson and Greg Riessen

Many thanks to Julia for taking all the photos

HOLY SHIT we are 5 days to SHOW TIME! As always with Muni we’ve got a tight schedule to keep so pay attention!

CATCHING THE BUS:

We are meeting at 7:30 AM. At 7:45 we start moving toward the starting line. The tortillas fly at 8 and we are on the course. If you fail to catch the bus by then you likely have missed it. Muni waits for no one.

We are meeting on the water side of the Embarcadero at Mission Street by the huge spider, near Pier 2. In this photo the two statues have been replaced by a spider. MEET THERE AT 7:30 AM.

MEET HERE

GETTING TO THE BUS:

There is no way you can drive to the start. And that would be unfathomable.

If you are coming from SF or the East Bay, take BART and get off at Embarcadero. Walk south along the Embarcadero until you see us on the left by the big spider, across from Mission St.

If you are coming from the South Bay take Caltrain. Walk north along the Embarcadero until you see us on the right, across from Mission St.

If you are coming from Marin catch the 6:30 am boat out of LARKSPUR. Walk south along the Embarcadero one block until you see us on the left, across from Mission St.

Bonus points if you ride Muni!

DRESSING FOR THE BUS:

Wear brown. Chocolate brown is the color of the Muni uniform. Brown pants, brown shirt, brown hat. WEAR BROWN!!!

SEE YOU ON SUNDAY! 7:30 AM!!! DON’T BE LATE

munigonewild.com

The bus is almost upon us!

Some detailing remains but she is almost ready to roll.

SUNDAY MAY 18 IS THE BIG DAY

The First Ride

Sunday saw the creation of the Bay to Breakers float.

In accordance with strict SFMTA guidelines the float was built of the most solid construction and ready to bear any load.

Incorporated features include:

• Rated 1,000 pound capacity steel chassis

• Pneumatic tires coupled with dynamic shock absorption system

• Double-yolk steering mechanism

Planned additions:

• Electric stereo and PA system

• Multiple keg operation

• Beer bong poles

PAINTERS NEEDED THIS SUNDAY

Everybody is welcome on this bus. Please come and help us put on the finishing touches and go for a test run. We must decide: which livery shall we paint?

Help create a part of history

Let me preface this entry by stating that I’m really tired of the neutral colors MUNI is using for the fast pass. It’s spring, lets use something . Not only am I not such a fan of these colors, but I also don’t have a whole lot of clothing I can match with them. This JCrew dress is a little bit of a stretch color wise, but it is so cute I couldn’t resist! It’s also available in grey, however, I own waaay too much grey, so I purchased the “papaya” version. Plus, my mom says this color looks good on me. JCrew has some other super cute stuff, so I recommend checking them out.

Shoes and a bag for this outfit was a bit of a stretch for me because I don’t own a nice white bag. Because I LOVE metallics, I went with a pair of gold gladiator-style flats (sorry, I bought them years ago) and FABULOUS Gucci shoulder bag.

Also, I’m not really tan enough for this dress, but I’ve been working on my tan using Jergens Natural Glow. If you aren’t already using go forth and purchase ASAP!!!

For your MUNI mani, I recommend “Don’t Socra-tease Me” by OPI. It’s actually more pink/coral than orange. If you happen to live near an Ulta they’re currently having a buy- one-get-one half off on OPI products. Because I would have to go to like, San Bruno or something to shop at Ulta, I instead walk over to PureBeauty at the center during my lunch hour. Last time I was there, they had a deal going that if you spent like $18 on OPI products (basically two polished) they threw in a free top coat.

Construction of the float begins Sunday!!!

MGW is proud to report that the Bay 2 Breakers chassis has arrived.  No sooner had the last bolt been assembled before the float was stormed by WILD Muni enthusiasts!  As the photo shows, these ladies are prepping for May 18 (note the libation and intoxicated demeanor).

THIS SUNDAY we begin construction!  Stay tuned for updates

That shit’s fucked up, son…

As we all know, a solid Muni bus begins with a solid chassis.  That’s why, after heavy deliberation, the MGW executive board decided to order only the finest steel wagon to serve as the base of the Bay 2 Breakers float.

With a capacity of over 1000 pounds, this bus will not be breaking down (although it may careen out of control downhill).

Next steps:

1) Plywood walls, painted in Muni livery

2) Bumpin beats from the stereo system

3) Beer bong trolley poles

Stay tuned for construction updates!

Though cable cars are usually preferred by tourists, they are the jewels of MUNI. This nice lady to your left is Francesca Cresci, of 36-24-36 proportions, was crowned Miss Cable Car of 1972. What a stunna! The crowning of the lady was coincidental with the Bell-Ringing Contest, which still runs today, every July in Union Square. The current champion is Leonard Oats, a 7-year gripman.

The Bell-Ringing contest is actually a musical event, and while Mr. Oat’s sample is not available, you can hear 2003 champion Walter Scott III’s work here:http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/archive/ringers/03/BellRingers2003-002.wav

Believe it or not, sometimes a Muni ride can be pretty slow…

How does one pass the time? I like to star at my fellow busriders. Because Muni stirs up the WILD side in us all, it is not difficult to visualize that cute patron missing some of his/her clothing…

Drumroll, please…

The official song of the 2008 Bay to Breakers Muni Gone WILD float will be:

“Another One Rides the Bus,” by none other than Weird Al Yankovic. Watch the music video and commit to memory!

The dinner and romance of Valentine’s Day screeched to a halt when I, about a month ago, was run over by a San Francisco taxicab. 16th and Valencia is normally home to burritos, ice cream carts, and sunny weather; this dreadful morning, though, the intersection witnessed a devastating upset in civilization’s favorite internal combustion game: man vs. machine.

My two-wheeled 150cc Vespa collided with a four-wheeled taxi and I have a broken leg to prove it. I was traveling about 30mph eastbound on 16th Street, the cabbie was going westbound also at about 30mph. That’s an estimated 60 miles per hour of force. The driver made a sharp turn onto Valencia, but failed to see this blog contributor as he rammed directly into the side of my bike, throwing me to the pavement and smashing my scooter into oblivion.

I still remember many things as I fell to the ground– hearing the onlookers shout, watching the medics cut through my perfectly good clothes, and finally arriving to San Francisco General. Yet, very honestly, the most pressing thought at the time, even as I realized my right leg wouldn’t move, was that my Vespa may not survive this one.

The silver beauty was my pride and joy. I managed a college coffee shop for two years to pay it off, lovingly wheeled it through my kitchen for safekeeping during upstate New York winters, and most of all, rode it hard. Many of my fondest memories, especially going full throttle with Erin singing in the wind, are associated with that blessed machine. And relevant to the MGW mission, my scooter purchase proved that getting around town doesn’t require belching tons of diesel fumes.

For the simple reason that you can live large and fill-up small, two-wheelers are the kings of private transit. Taxicabs, on the contrary, are the lowest of the low– carbon bigfoots and the nemesis of public transportation.

But the best of private transit is still not public transit. I live to tell all readers that taking transportation of any kind into your own hands is risky. You may face dangerous and unpleasant circumstances. You may have titanium rod and screw implants. You may not even live to tell your tale. The safer and easier bet is climbing into an enormous, practically bombproof Muni trolleybus to have the driver chauffeur you around. No risk of bodily harm here.

Even dangling off the edge of a Cable Car comes with Muni’s guarantee to safely deliver passengers to their destinations. Moreover, with someone doing the driving for you, your daily commute is transformed into a luxury experience. Suddenly a ride across town can substitute as productive work time, relaxing rest time, or in the case of MGW, reckless playtime.

As the triumphant survivor to a major auto-borne trauma, I advise two things:

1) if you demand immediate mobility and unparalleled freedom, buy a Vespa, but be sure to invest in a sturdy helmet; otherwise

2) ride the San Francisco rails.

I’m a 23 year-old recent transplant to San Francisco, and have become a true citizen of this city. I recently signed up at my local library and have been getting my free books fairly often, at a place that could be easily mistaken for a glorious locker room for the homeless with flowers in their hair. Yes, I live in Haight Ashbury. The library is about 5 blocks from my house, a nice, brisk walk, good for the heart.

I pretty much always take the 33. And I have a FastPass, which means I own the city. I love Muni. I really do.I live on the 33, but I also take the N-Judah, 6-Parnassus and 71-Haight-Noriega to get places downtown. Then the 43-Masonic to get to Trader Joe’s. I live and die by 511.org and 311 on the phone. I know which stops have the Onion and SF Weekly, and I tear out the crosswords to do on the ride.

I’m not a perfect rider: I miss stops a lot. I get on the wrong direction. My favorite spot is not the back seat, but the row right before. I only sit on the facing-forward seats, which minimizes your lurching forward and contact with smelly old people and their shopping bags.

Rest assured, me and Muni are tight. I’m looking forward to contributing on this hilarious blog. And will DEFINITELY be rocking our bus at Bay to Breakers.

Check out my blog!

Kisses

The delightful fleshy pink and corn yellow colors of March’s Fast Pass are striking indeed. The yellow reminds me of the Pittsburg BART line, while the fleshy pink reminds me of something else.

To match with this March’s MUNI pass, I’ve selected a printed T-Bags dress. The colors in the dress compliment this month’s pass perfectly! This dress is also great for Spring because its so versatile! Wear it by its self with flip flops during a day spent shopping around town. At night when it starts to get chilly, add a denim jacket (mine’s from jcrew) and dress it up with a pair of wedges (I recently bought THIS PAIR in two colors). The perfect bag for this look is the roomy Ananas bag in cream. I use this bag all the time and its a totally worthwile investment.

What do you wear to match your Fast Pass?

Wednesday morning, a protest and march kicked off the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Never to miss an opportunity to assert their revulsion with the war, the SFPD made haste to participate.

First, a convey of police Suburbans, marked and unmarked cars made a symbolic progression from Market Street up Bush Street, in the wrong direction. This gesture obviously was the SFPD representing the fact that our country is going the wrong way and needs to turn around. Just like this administration, the police convey stubborning and screamingly forged ahead against rush hour traffic. Only with great effort and several near-casualties did our heroic officers traverse the four blocks to Kearney Street.

The convey meets the police bus on Montgomery.

SF Police care about the environment! That’s why they requisitioned a HYBRID Muni bus!
There they met up with many more officers. In fact so many officers wanted to participate in the rally that they requisitioned a Muni bus! Notice the POLICE SERVICE on the sign. Truly WILD!

Motorcycle police escort a bus of more police. There were likely >100 officers in support! Truly the best use of police resources.

In fact there were so many police in support, they traveled in front, behind, and all around the parade. One could almost say the police dominated the event! Good thing they were there in support.

MGW must take off its hat in salute to San Francisco’s finest!

Witnessed on the 108 inbound from Treasure Island:

On a crowded bus, a man standing in the middle of the aisle decided to take off his coat and shirt and stand mid-Muni sans shirt. The man next to him (these two individuals didn’t know eachother) says to the bare chested man, “Dude, I ain’t got no dollar bills!”

Nina enjoys the high-caliber men who court her on Muni, especially on the Dirty 30.  She goes WILD for hot bus mechanics as well.

To keep track of the size of our team, MGW has created a Bay to Breakers signup on Facebook. Please RSVP on the page.

To the best of our knowledge, Facebook doesn’t allow links to event pages. So you have to search for it. Search in the SF network for Muni Gone WILD

If you don’t have Facebook just drop us a line.

The 2008 Muni Gone WILD Bay to Breakers Conceptual Float has been released. The idea is to build a Muni bus out of plywood. It will carry WILD passengers and sufficient beer. Features include beer bong trolley poles, hand brakes and a stereo system.

Construction is slated to start in late March. If you posess a skilled trade, MGW wants YOU!
Contact the team

And don’t forget to sign up on the Facebook page.

Seth likes to go fishing, generally for anything that bites his bait.  He finds they tend to bite on the N Owl, around 3:30 am.  You can find him at the back of the train.

Overheard on the 108 inbound from Treasure Island:

Mother: Mommy almost went to jail.

5 year old daughter: Why?

Mother: Because Mommy punched a man.

5 year old daughter: Why?

Mother: Because he was trying to grab Mommy.

5 year old daughter: Did the police beat you?

Mother: Yes, the police beat Mommy up.

5 year old daughter: Why?

Mother: Because Mommy tried to run.

The Transit Effectiveness Project, Muni’s $2 million study to overhaul the entire system, has finally produced what MGW has been waiting for: WILD changes to the Muni map!

MGW has evaluated the proposed changes on its scale of WILDness:

1. Discontinuing the 26? About fucking time! Not so wild…
2. Running the 33 on 24th Street? Clever, somewhat wild…
3. Connecting the 18 and the 23? Now we’re talking, that’s Wild…
4. Giving the 5 Limited buses? Shit! that’s WILD!
5. Turning the 19 into a circulator? ARE YOU NUTS? WILD WILD WILD!!!

MGW would like to take this moment to commend the brilliant ladies running the TEP show, both at Muni and the Controller’s Office.

Despite our enthusiasm, elsewhere in the city naysayers are frothing at the mouth at the thought of losing “my bus stop” or, even worse, “my bus!” MGW pledges our full support behind the coalition to improve Muni. Hopefully our Mayor will stick by his word and put some of that political capital where it’s needed.

You can read the report and check out the proposed new map on the SFTEP site.

Mary Brown, who recently finished her Geography Master’s thesis from Berkeley, has put together a website presenting her thesis. Her paper deals with the changes that have occurred in the Mission District over the decades to accommodate the automobile, specifically the installation of garages and driveways (”curb cuts”).

Her research brings up some interesting points. For starters, each curb cut has about a one-for-one reduction in on street parking. In other words, if the garages and the curb cuts were removed, there would be just about the same amount of total parking.

When a homeowner installs a curb cut, only he can legally park in front of his driveway. This “privatization” of the curb is a whole other can of worms we won’t open here. We will point out, however, that her research reveals that 49% of garages are not even used for storing cars!

The fine folks at the SF Department of Parking & Traffic put out a Transportation Fact Sheet each year. Among the statistics in the 16-page document:

• There are 519,545 driver’s licenses issues in the city; there are 49,772 disabled placards (that does not count temporary placards)
• The City absorbs a 35,400 net increase in vehicles each day (mostly commuters)
• There are 946 miles of paved streets
• The steepest street, 31.5%, is Filbert (parallel to Lombard)
• 40.5% of SF residents drive alone to work, 10.8% carpool, 31.1% take transit, 0.9% rode a motorcycle, 2.1% bicycle, 9.4% walked, 4.6% work at home, and 0.7% were “other”
• There are 7,200 intersections, and 1,148 of them have traffic signals; the first was installed in 1921
• There is one operating jitney in the city, as permitted by the SFPD.  Where is it?
• There are 317 budgeted Parking Control Officers who issue 1,902,673 parking tickets over 320,000 on-street metered spaces, which brings in $88,174,228 in revenue.  Compare that with $29,687,616 in revenue from meters ($1,173 per meter) and $5,492,633 in revenue from Residential Parking Permits
• The most common parking violation, at 34.9%, was Street Cleaning; 2nd was Expired Meter at 20.7% and 3rd was No Residential Permit at 10.3%.

Welcome to the newest blog about San Francisco’s beloved and beleaguered public transit system, Muni. Unlike many blogs related to Muni, MGW does not aim to bash, humiliate or ostracize. Rather, the purpose is to celebrate the Muni lifestyle; MGW sincerely believes that riding can and should be a delightful facet of the urban experience.

What if residents looked forward to riding Muni? Could a trip on Muni be stimulating, productive, whimsical, erotic? MGW will encourage dialogue that furthers the notion of a WILD time on transit.

Please hold on!

Here at MGW, we hold two dates with special reverence each year.  First is December 28, which commemorates that day in 1912 when the A-Geary streetcar began service.  Not only was it Muni’s first route, but Muni was the country’s first publicly-owned transit system.  You can bet Mayor “Sunny Jim” Rolph, who conducted the first car, threw down that night.

Speaking of throwing down, the second X on our calendar is the third Sunday in May, San Francisco’s raison d’être.  Bay to Breakers is Muni’s opportunity to do what it does best: cram smelly, drunk people into a bus and inch them through an obstacle course to an elusive destination, before too many people vomit or fight.

In recognition of Muni’s incalculable service rendered every race day, MGW is constructing what will undeniably be the greatest B2B float EVER.  All those who share MGW’s passion for the Muni lifestyle are welcome to join the show.  While vast preparations have already been completed, MGW has nothing to show for it here.  Check back here frequently to keep abreast of MGW B2B developments. 

Greg loves the quiet hum of the trolley bus. You will find passed out in the back of the 14.

Rebecca came all the way from Montana just to ride the 5-Fulton.  The best stop is the end of the line at the Transbay Terminal, where there’s always someone looking to party…

Chance is a rottweiler/hound mongrel and the creator of Muni Gone Wild. His favorite Muni lines are the N and the 5, because they go to the beach. When Chance isn’t having a WILD time on Muni, he likes chasing rabbits and belly rubs.

David was not a huge Muni patron until a taxi crashed into his Vespa and his right leg.  He now holds as much admiration as he does for the fine folks at the SF General emergency room.

Eli is a big shot real estate broker.  At the end of a long day, he likes to soothe his nerves with a bottle of Night Train on the 14.