[Rescue Muni] Safety on Buses.
Jim Reid (jreid@icne.com)
Sat, 10 Oct 1998 15:32:06 -0700
I read you comments on problems on dangerous bus routes. An Idea I had was
to hire some big ex-cons who want to make a new start in life and are good
drivers and know how to handle punks. They could be trained to be good bus
drivers and be courteous to the riders but enforce the rules about radio's
and bad conduct. An Ex-con would have no problem throwing someone who
deserved it off the bus. Not all Ex-cons are bad people; with proper
psychological screening, the right Ex-con could put his or her strong
negative energy to good use. They would have the opportunity to become good
citizens and have a good stable job serving the public. Another idea would
be to have beat cops randomly ride around their district on buses. Perhaps
just riding a few blocks and getting off, so that there would be a random
police presents on the bus lines. I believe that MUNI needs a complete
overhaul in personnel, equipment, and regulations. I do not believe that
City Hall has the political will to do much about MUNI. I believe that MUNI
will change only when groups like Rescue MUNI write and promote Charter
Amendments that will fix MUNI once and for all. Now is a window of
opportunity to make dramatic changes in MUNI's structure. This window will
close when the new cars arrive next year and the Metro is running ok again.
When the riders are no longer angry about MUNI, the politicians will do
nothing except reduce the budget and give money to the loudest angry group.
Rescue MUNI's membership will drop and you will have missed the golden
opportunity. My suggestion: Dream of the best public transit system that
you can imagine and use rider anger to build the foundation today for that
system. As I was trapped in miserable city traffic Saturday at noon, I was
thinking how nice it would be if public transportation was not as miserable
as it is and I would have an alternate to driving. Unfortunately the
miserable traffic is still better and faster than the miserable bus
system...sad!
Jim Reid.
"Together we can fix MUNI...riders, motorists, & voters."
Jim Reid for San Francisco Supervisor
415-826-6106 E-mail: jreid@icne.com
Full text of Charter Amendment @ www.SFSupervisor.com
Ideas for Public Transit Charter Amendment:
• Consolidation of all City transportation under one new Agency.
• New nine member Board elected by riders, employees, & voters.
• Directors ride the system daily to find problems and solutions.
• Measurable Customer Service goals for a 21st Century system.
• Hire, promote, and fire employees based on Customer service.
• Full implementing the San Francisco Transit First Policy.
• Secure funding approved by voters to make MUNI fareless