(note the quote from yours truly, late in the article)
andrew
Mayor hops aboard Muni for a firsthand
look at service Feb. 6, 1998
HOME Zachary Coile [Image]
News OF THE EXAMINER STAFF
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Entertainment Brown says he's has been taking rides ON =
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at night to check the system
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Traffic Mayor Brown is doing what critics have
Weather often suggested he do - ride the [Try The =
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buses.
Business
Columnists Brown said Thursday he has made a Get a =
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Software City at night to get a closer look at
Store the much-criticized city service.
Conferences The mayor's comments came at the 87th
Search annual San Francisco Chamber of
Index Commerce Luncheon, at which the
results of the group's citywide poll
were released.
The telephone survey of 550 San
Francisco voters found that residents
are mostly pleased with the quality of
life in The City, but had concerns
about homelessness, housing costs and
the safety and reliability of Muni.
In a short speech at the end of the
lunch, Brown addressed issues raised
in the poll, including the troubles
plaguing Muni.
He told the crowd he had been riding
the buses at night, mostly by himself
but occasionally with one of his
police drivers.
The mayor said it was hard for him to
ride incognito, but that he usually
sits toward the rear and tries to
experience the ride just like any
other passenger.
Brown did not reveal much about his
experiences, though he did say he
found the buses very clean.
P.J. Johnston, the mayor's press aide,
said Brown's late-night rides were
never announced to his office or to
the press.
"He does it on his own, at his own
prerogative," Johnston said. "In some
cases he has done it without his
police escort or driver, which makes
the police nervous. But he's doing it
for his own benefit, not for a photo
opportunity or media story."
Staffers surprised
The mayor's press secretary, Kandace
Bender, said that even staff members
were surprised to hear of the
late-night rides.
Brown would not reveal which lines he
rides for fear the media or others
might try to follow him, Bender said.
Brown is not the first mayor to ride
Muni to evaluate its problems. But the
mayor is more often associated with
his city-issued Lincoln Town Car,
which whisks him around town.
Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Carol
Piasente said the mayor's comments
were well-received by the crowd and in
line with the chamber's call for a
"rider-first" approach at Muni.
"People need to understand what riders
want from the system, what kinds of
problems they face and what kinds of
frustrations they encounter," Piasente
said. "The fact that the mayor is out
there riding and seeing firsthand what
the issues are is good."
Brown has been criticized for past
comments seen as insensitive to Muni
riders. Last November, Brown took on
rider complaints about Muni, saying,
"Our problem is our expectation that
Muni will be our own private
SuperShuttle."
The comment did not sit well with
riders such as Andrew Sullivan, who
relies on the 21-Hayes bus to take him
to his downtown job every day.
Sullivan, a coordinator for the
citizen group Rescue Muni, has joined
in the call for the mayor to
experience the system for himself.
Rider wants details
Sullivan said he applauds the mayor's
move.
"I think it's great. I think he should
ride it every day," Sullivan said.
"I'd be very interested to hear his
perspective on customer service at
Muni.
"How long does he wait for a bus? How
often does the bus break down? Does he
fear for his safety? Does he feel like
he'll be late because Muni suddenly
breaks down? Having experienced it,
maybe he'll be more amenable to (Muni
reforms)."
Muni spokeswoman Sharyn Saslafsky said
the railway is glad to hear of its
high-profile new rider.
"I think it's absolutely terrific,"
Saslafsky said. "Muni is a top
priority for the mayor. He wants to
see for himself what's going on."
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