My Love for you is Fading Fast Muni

Rant: I don't mean to sound cheap, but I think a 50 cent fare increase is A LOT! Muni service ain't that great. In addition to the fare increase, they are cutting several bus lines, limiting service on others and getting rid of the 3 day grace period at the beginning of the month. The demise of the grace period made me the most angry. I often have a hard time finding a place that hasn't sold out of Fast Passes by the 1 day of the month. In fact, for the past few months, I have been paying cash fares. I miss my pretty Fast Pass! Sometimes finding a Fast Pass is like the golden ticket. I don't understand why it has to be so complicated in SF, when plenty of other cities run mass transit pretty darn well. The NY subways may not be clean, and they may be super-packed with pushy peeps during the rush hours, but at least everyone can get a Metrocard, and get on. And for the record, Muni ain't all that clean. Trust me, my preggo-nose can detect urine, cheetos and spilled coffee the moment I step on the bus. I won't even get into the issues I have have with some drivers- passing up stops when the bus isn't even full, cussing up a storm or being overtly rude. 

I'll still ride the bus, trains, and cable cars, but I have a bit more attitude toward Muni now. I ride because I don't want to drive. I believe in mass transit as a way of life. Why Muni, why do you have to make my love so difficult?

I am a Liar

K/L/M Inbound/ going to the Gap to buy Leila a swimsuit (for the swim class she hates): I never thought I would be one of those parents who uses lies and bribery to get their kid to do something. Those people are awful, right?  Well, throw me in the mix of those people.  You see, in addition to baby dolls, popcorn and ELMO, my daughter loves dogs. Our neighborhood is full of gay guys walking their "woofs" and Leila wants to stop and greet each one of them. Usually this is fine, but I was trying to make it to the store before the rain started up, and she refused to go down the steps into the station because there were tons of woofs passing by. I figured I would have to take her down kicking and screaming, which I hate on so many levels. But suddenly, I had an ah-ha! I used my adult-wit to outsmart my toddler and I was quite proud of myself. I told her that I thought there would be lots of woof woofs on the train. In fact, I continued to lie, I think I can hear them! She listened closely and questioned, "woofs?" "Yes! Let's go see!" Knowing this would be a problem when we were actually on the train, I continued the b.s. "There's one... oh he's gone." I felt bad afterwords, but the crisis had been avoided, and thankfully, her memory is limited. 

*The picture above is from one of our SF hot days last week. It would be so nice to go to the beach more often. Are you listening mother nature?

Kissy Face

24 Divisidero/ going to play group: Leila is in full-on kissy mode these day. She blows kisses to everyone, and waves "hel-looo" (sound like "holla"!) to everyone she sees. When you live in a city, and ride the bus, this means that every outing will take forever. I does help with the overall baby hostility I sometime feeling when we are out and about. Also, I'll admit it's very cute, until she tries to kiss inanimate objects, like the ground, the bus pole rocks. Doesn't this kid understand there is a killer pig flu attacking us all?! Don't get me started on her other new habit, licking her hands. 

Ridin' Solo

T line/ downtown to shop: Yesterday my husband and in-laws took Leila to San Jose for the day. I had some alone time, which was wonderful. I tried to just lay in my pj's and watch t.v. all day, but alas, there was no good garbage on t.v. I pulled myself today and made my way downtown for a little Saturday shopping at the mall. I had forgotten how easy it is to ride the bus without a toddler, massive diaper bag and stroller or carrying device in tow. What a breeze! I didn't even have to hem and hah for someone to give me a seat! Who needs a seat?! 

* My days "alone" are going to get even further apart. You see, dear reader in Sept. I'll be dragging another little one on the bus with me. This new pregnancy accounts for part of the reason I haven't been posting. One, I have been sick as a dog. Two, I can't handle the smells of the city, let alone the bus. Leila and I have been hanging out in our hood, laying low till the pregnancy drama subsides. I would guess that as I begin to grow, and certainly when the baby arrives the advice of strangers will again begin to flow and this blog with have a little revival. Stay tuned. 

Ewww!

F line/ going to Yerba Buena: I promised myself that my next post would be a positive one. I ventured out with a smile on my face, determined to have some kind of nice encounter on the train. The train was unusually crowded for mid-day, especially since we get on at the last stop. About half way there, a woman got on that was not in good shape. I don't mean she was fat or anything, I mean that she was most likely on some heavy duty drugs. She was doing her best to make it to a seat, all the while munching slowly on some KFC. I hate the smell of KFC. I find it so gross that I make my husband dump the carcass from his meal in the trash can outside so as not to reek up the house. The stinky fried chicken was just a little preview. Leila and I were sitting across from the back doors. When the woman got up to leave, it was very clear she had soiled herself. A lot. Nearly everyone on the bus noticed at the same time, with looks of horror spread across their faces. Windows opened left and right and many people just got off the bus. 

Need less to say, any attempt at a positive encounter was quickly gone. 

Things I Hate on the Bus

Here's the top 10 things that stick in my craw when riding Muni (in no particular order): 

1. People who talk loudly, on the phone or to each other. Don't put your business out on Front St. 

2. People who leave their food waste on the bus. I have noticed that many people like to eat sunflower seeds and spit the shells on the floor of the bus. Gross. 

3. People who don't give up their seat to the elderly or disabled- especially teenagers who I assume are ignorant of all things socially appropriate. 

4. People who give the bag/ purse a seat. Did your bag pay a fare? 

5. People who sit on the aisle seat when the window seat is open, and then act irritated when you ask them to move so you can sit in the open seat. This happens all the time. 

6. There's a certain ethnic group of elderly ladies who are particularly brutal when it comes to securing a seat on the bus. I have been pushed (hard) with the baby in tow plenty of times by these die-hards. 

7. Mystery puddles. I imagine the worst. 

8. Aggressive bus drivers. The #5 route is the worst. 

9. Cussing loudly. Look, I have the mouth of a sailor so I understand the importance of f-bombs. That said, nobody wants to have their ears assaulted when you can't walk away. 

10. It erks me that there is no better system in place for purchasing a monthly bus pass. I hate scouting local shops on the first of the month. Can't we have some reusable credit card thing that we swipe or something? Although I do look forward to seeing what color the pass will be each month. 

Enough whining. 

Change

In the spirit of the new administration, I have been thinking about change. I haven't had too many abnormal encounters on Muni lately and the blog is suffering. I have, however, had some strange interactions just being out and about. Take for instance last week, when the young man sitting next to me and Leila at our neighborhood burrito place leaned in and asked me, "How long did you bore her in your womb?" Huh? He then went on to tell me that childbirth wouldn't be painful if I could use meditation to detach my pelvis and move it into my ribcage. Hmm. Ok. 

I will continue to post about Muni when I have stories to share, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy the additional non-bus related stories.