Comments on: It’s Time to Get on the Bus and Free Muni http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/03/07/its-time-to-get-on-the-bus-and-free-muni/ Join the Debate! Read and comment on articles posted on actlocallysf.org. Fri, 16 May 2008 18:52:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: Robin Foley http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/03/07/its-time-to-get-on-the-bus-and-free-muni/#comment-587 Thu, 17 May 2007 06:05:08 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/03/07/its-time-to-get-on-the-bus-and-free-muni/#comment-587 As a Muni rider for 6 years, I have experienced the many frustrations riders face while using Muni. I wholeheartedly agree that Muni is 'driving people to their cars'. Many of the riders that ride on the Free Muni days may not see the day to day hassles Muni puts its passengers through. I would glady pay more to ride Muni if it were a reliable, fast, clean, and safe mode of transportation. Clearly passengers rely on Muni to get them to work and school and therefore need a set schedule to depend on. For many people it takes far less time to actually drive to work than to ride Muni. In many cities public transportation is the most direct and efficient way to get to work. Unfortunately riding Muni would double, and sometimes triple the time it took for me to get to work (on time). I believe many of San Francisco's working class would be more inclined to ride Muni if they were guaranteed to get to their jobs on time. Muni has also become incredibly unsanitary and unsafe as well. It is full of litter, urine, and during peak times crowds pushing and shoving, with riders that demonstrate no respect for children or the elderly. I think many more citizens of San Francisco would glady ride Muni if the conditions, efficiency, and reliability improved.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> As a Muni rider for 6 years, I have experienced the many frustrations riders face while using Muni. I wholeheartedly agree that Muni is ‘driving people to their cars’. Many of the riders that ride on the Free Muni days may not see the day to day hassles Muni puts its passengers through. I would glady pay more to ride Muni if it were a reliable, fast, clean, and safe mode of transportation. Clearly passengers rely on Muni to get them to work and school and therefore need a set schedule to depend on. For many people it takes far less time to actually drive to work than to ride Muni. In many cities public transportation is the most direct and efficient way to get to work. Unfortunately riding Muni would double, and sometimes triple the time it took for me to get to work (on time). I believe many of San Francisco’s working class would be more inclined to ride Muni if they were guaranteed to get to their jobs on time.

Muni has also become incredibly unsanitary and unsafe as well. It is full of litter, urine, and during peak times crowds pushing and shoving, with riders that demonstrate no respect for children or the elderly. I think many more citizens of San Francisco would glady ride Muni if the conditions, efficiency, and reliability improved.

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]]> by: Gene Eplett http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/03/07/its-time-to-get-on-the-bus-and-free-muni/#comment-57 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 05:27:57 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/03/07/its-time-to-get-on-the-bus-and-free-muni/#comment-57 The Mayor should declare Muni fare-free on, say, June 1, 2007, for one year - as an experiment to see if it would work. He should also, at the same time, launch a "Keep Muni Free" campaign along the lines of the PBS pledge campaigns. Plaster all the bus stop Kiosks and the underground stations and the buses themselves with ads exhorting the citizenry to send in a pledge of $100, $200, $500, $1000, or whatever they can afford, to "Keep Muni Free" (i.e. beyond the one year trial period). They could offer gifts proportional to the size of the pledge, like scale models of the "F" line trains for the kids, or posters of Gavin in a swimsuit for the gals and gays, and other stuff like that. There are plenty of folks (self included) who would gladly pledge as much or more than we currently pay annually for a fast pass (e.g. $500 plus) just to avoid having to buy the damn things each month, and remembering to bring them every morning, and feeling guilty about boarding on the back of the bus, etc. Some people would pledge more than the fast pass cost, and some would undoubtely pledge less, including nothing, but I'm virtually certain the Muni would raise as much or more than the difference between the amount of fares they currently collect and the current cost to collect it. Anyway, just an idea. My wife likes it too, if that means anything. Best regards, Gene Eplett (a fan) 1461 Sanchez Street San Francisco, California 94131 (415) 641-1110 P.S. the loudest argument I've heard against a Fare Free Muni is that it would "increase the ridership thereby requiring more buses, and additional maintenance crews" Sounds to me like an argument 'for' not 'against'!<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> The Mayor should declare Muni fare-free on, say, June 1, 2007, for one year - as an experiment to see if it would work.

He should also, at the same time, launch a “Keep Muni Free” campaign along the lines of the PBS pledge campaigns. Plaster all the bus stop Kiosks and the underground stations and the buses themselves with ads exhorting the citizenry to send in a pledge of $100, $200, $500, $1000, or whatever they can afford, to “Keep Muni Free” (i.e. beyond the one year trial period). They could offer gifts proportional to the size of the pledge, like scale models of the “F” line trains for the kids, or posters of Gavin in a swimsuit for the gals and gays, and other stuff like that.

There are plenty of folks (self included) who would gladly pledge as much or more than we currently pay annually for a fast pass (e.g. $500 plus) just to avoid having to buy the damn things each month, and remembering to bring them every morning, and feeling guilty about boarding on the back of the bus, etc.

Some people would pledge more than the fast pass cost, and some would undoubtely pledge less, including nothing, but I’m virtually certain the Muni would raise as much or more than the difference between the amount of fares they currently collect and the current cost to collect it.

Anyway, just an idea. My wife likes it too, if that means anything.

Best regards,

Gene Eplett (a fan)
1461 Sanchez Street
San Francisco, California 94131
(415) 641-1110

P.S. the loudest argument I’ve heard against a Fare Free Muni is that it would “increase the ridership thereby requiring more buses, and additional maintenance crews” Sounds to me like an argument ‘for’ not ‘against’!

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]]> by: james buckley http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/03/07/its-time-to-get-on-the-bus-and-free-muni/#comment-50 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:41:13 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/03/07/its-time-to-get-on-the-bus-and-free-muni/#comment-50 FREE MUNI - thank you for your article : I think we must approach this alternative because MUNI is driving everyone to their CARS!! And I would imagine that MUNI employees DRIVE to work because MUNI is unreliable. I like many others work for a living and have a schedule. Why shouldn't MUNI ? This city is hostage to MUNI. To break that relationship, FREE MUNI. Change the system. Question, where is it written that being a Bus Driver is a career? I am referring to some drivers treating passengers with contempt. Aren't we MUNI's trade so to speak? If everyone stops using public transportation where does that leave public transportation?...the situation is dire and while speaking of FREE MUNI is ' about time '...there isn't much time left. I suggest one day out of every week (say MONDAYS/fridays ) be offically called Spare the Air Days...and make everyone aware - use the advertising space on the side or back of every bus - so the PUBLIC knows. Then the change can begin. we all know air pollution is here everyday so we should treat the problem now : one day of every week is spare the air day : monday or fridays. also one more question Why on the week end is muni LESS available? james buckley<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> FREE MUNI - thank you for your article : I think we must approach this alternative because MUNI is driving everyone to their CARS!! And I would imagine that MUNI employees DRIVE to work because MUNI is unreliable.
I like many others work for a living and have a schedule. Why shouldn’t MUNI ? This city is hostage to MUNI. To break that relationship, FREE MUNI. Change the system. Question, where is it written that being a Bus Driver is a career? I am referring to some drivers treating passengers with contempt. Aren’t we MUNI’s trade so to speak? If everyone stops using public transportation where does that leave public transportation?…the situation is dire and while speaking of FREE MUNI is ‘ about time ‘…there isn’t much time left. I suggest one day out of every week (say MONDAYS/fridays ) be offically called Spare the Air Days…and make everyone aware - use the advertising space on the side or back of every bus - so the PUBLIC knows. Then the change can begin.
we all know air pollution is here everyday so we should treat the problem now : one day of every week is spare the air day : monday or fridays.
also one more question Why on the week end is muni LESS available?
james buckley
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