[Rescue Muni] Runaway Bus Again

Max Pong (pong2@llnl.gov)
Mon, 21 Dec 1998 09:43:52 -0800 (PST)

A Muni bus crashed into a condo at Ocean Beach for the seventh time.
Again, the driver neglected to set the parking brake and/or wheel chock
before leaving the bus unattended. This is a well known hazard and Emilio
Cruz attempted (and failed) to fire the driver the last time it happened.
If Muni cannot prevent this recurring accident, how can much more complex
problems like Muni Metro be solved?

If the driver was fired, this accident would not happen again. This is an
unacceptable solution, so one must concede that relying on administrative
procedures (operator action) to safely secure the vehicle is not effective.
Thus an engineered solution should be considered. Drivers apparently leave
their vehicle to use the restroom. Possible solutions: Reconfigure the
bus stop so the buses don't point downhill or toward the condos, relocate
the bus stop, relocate the restroom, etc.