The N-Judah Chronicles

This includes the "N is Near" shirt, the extensive line of Muni Failwhale items, and more. Buy something today and show folks in 2012 how cool you are with your new apparel!

Posted by Greg Dewar at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's not a lot going on with all things Muni beyond the usual nonsense, so I'm taking some time off and doing a little traveling and to get away from the day to day grind. Besides, these days the news from City Hall and the SFMTA tends to be way too depressing to try and debunk.

I mean, seriously, this latest "budget crisis" has the same old BS being pumped out on all sides, you can basically re-read anything I wrote on the subject and it's more or less the same now as it was in the last few years. Too much BS, and no one being serious about fixing Muni, because as always we have a "Mayor" who doesn't care, an SFMTA Board that doesn't seem to want to challenge said "Mayor," and the usual folks bloviating at the Board who are also full of BS.

Needless to say it doesn't exactly motivate me to write about these folks and how their antics ruin your Muni. Plus, I really could use a nice vacation where my biggest concern is whether to go to the beach or go to the movies or the comic book store, and nothing else.

On that cheery note, have a great holiday season and be safe when you're out celebrating! See you all in 2012.

EDIT: I'm going to my old stomping grounds aka West LA/Venice and will be riding the Big Blue Bus, possibly one of the most functional transit agencies in America. I know, right? WHO KNEW LA could pwn a 7x7 college town in Northern California? IT BOGGLES THE MIND OMG!

Posted by Greg Dewar at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was taken in a flash because I couldn't believe what was happening, but if you look closely you'll see that the N-Judah train is making a left turn onto 9th. The problem is that pedestrians were given a "walk" signal at the same time.

(insert record scratch here)

Yes, you read that right. I only wish the photo were better but I (and other persons walking) were all about to step off the sidewalk when we all realized "wtf?" and stopped. This is not the first time I've seen this happening, and while personal observations do not indicate a greater trend necessarily, if it's already happened twice in the last two weeks, then I can't believe it hasn't happened at other times too.

This is all mind blowing because as we all know, after lobbying by then-Supervisor Mirkarimi, residents, and myself, and after a horrific accident involving a woman being run over by the N-Judah train, the SFCTA swung into action* and installed a new light system, which was to ensure that pedestrians crossed without having to worry about an N killing them.

Thus, it's bit troubling to see N operators just blasting through against the light, or seeing the light system malfunction, or whatever, because all it will take is ONE accident and BAM! Muni has another lawsuit to pay off and some poor person is maimed or killed. I put in a call to Muni to find out what is up, and if I ever hear back, I'll let you know what I find.

Until then, always pay attention to your surrounding when crossing here (or anywhere). Just because you have the right and the light doesn't mean things can't f--k up anyway, and be safe out there.

PS: Some have noted that the system as is does create some odd delays for people crossing the north side of Irving/9th. That may be so, but that is because for the SFCTA to install a "perfect" system of sensors, they would have had to dig up the entire intersection and tracks to do so. The system as is relies on a series of sensors and optical cameras to tell when the N trains are there, and when they are not and sync the walk signals as needed. At any rate, it beats old ladies getting killed by trains.

Posted by Greg Dewar at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)