Taken with Transportation

Five years ago, the SFMTA expanded San Francisco's Free Muni for Youth program to include all young people 18 and under. Whether a child or teen lives in SF or is visiting, they can use the city’s public transit system free of charge. All they have to do is climb on board and enjoy the ride. 

In this episode, we cover the history of Free Muni for Youth and talk to some young people who benefit from the program. The episod...

Downtown San Francisco is making a comeback after a slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we discuss what’s new in the downtown area and how Muni, the city’s public transit system, is an essential part of the area’s revitalization. We also talk about Muni ridership and the SFMTA’s Fix It! Week maintenance program, which keeps the ride to downtown fast, reliable, efficient and safe.
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The FIFA World Cup 26™ has come to the Bay Area, putting San Francisco in the international spotlight. In this episode, we speak with Mayor Daniel Lurie about how the city prepared to take the world stage for the tournament. We also bring SFMTA Major Special Events Lead Tony Henderson into the conversation to discuss how Muni and other public transit systems got ready to help people get to matches in Santa Clara and watch parties i...

In honor of Bike Month, this episode is fueled by pedal power. We are talking to people who bike in San Francisco, including some SFMTA staff members, about their experiences on two wheels. We also discuss how biking infrastructure on our streets supports safety for everyone, including people who drive, walk and roll. And we get an update on the city's bikeshare program.

This episode features Transportation Planner Christy Osorio, A...

It’s Climate Week in San Francisco! So, in this episode, we’re discussing the work the SFMTA does to give people environmentally friendly transportation options. From Muni to EV charging stations at the curb, it’s not hard to go green while getting around the city. The episode features conversations with SF Environment Executive Director Tyrone Jue, Muni Zero Emission Program Manager Bhavin Khatri and SFMTA Parkin...

Transit Employee Appreciation Day is coming up on March 18, and March is Women’s History Month. In honor of both, we’re celebrating the women of Muni, past and present. 

This episode introduces us to several women whose work helps people move throughout San Francisco. And we discuss how a teenager who would go on to become a famous writer and activist worked for a time as one of the city’s first female streetc...

You never know where you will find love, or where love will find you. It could happen anywhere, including on public transit.

In this episode, we talk with two couples who found each other thanks, at least in part, to Muni. SFMTA Acting Chief Safety Officer Oliver Gajda and his partner Damara Arsanis first encountered each other on the 21 Hayes about nine years ago before connecting on a dating app in 2022. Mary Rickles Conley and Ja...

It’s the holiday homestretch in San Francisco. All over the city, people are hopping on public transit to get to work, shopping and holiday parties. In our second Merry Days of Muni episode, we look at how Muni supports the San Francisco small businesses at this time of year…and all year long. We also hear about how the joy of the season makes its way onto our vehicles. 

This episode features Rize Up Bakery Founder...

It’s the holiday season, and the Merry Days of Muni are underway. In this episode, agency staff discuss their holiday traditions and what they’re grateful for. We also get the low down on what’s available in the Muni Store’s Merry Days of Muni Holiday Collection. SFMTA Operator Gary Merritt, Transportation Planner Javaun Garcia, Chief Spokesperson Erica Kato, Equity Engagement Coordinator Lawrence Festin, Pr...

Another school year has begun, and thousands of San Francisco kids and teenagers are walking, biking, carpooling and taking Muni to class. In this episode, we discuss the work we do to support education by helping students get to school. We speak with SFMTA Transit Planner Sandra Padilla, SFMTA Transportation Planner Ben Frazier, School Crossing Guard Dennis Lowry, Walk San Francisco Interim Executive Director Margaret McCarthy, as...

Summer is in full swing, and there is no lack of things to do in San Francisco. In this episode, we get out for some summer fun and describe how you can get to your favorite events and activities on Muni. If you drive, walk or bike, we’ve got you covered with event traffic management courtesy of our parking control officers. And our accessibility team makes sure everyone can get around and enjoy the season.

This episode featur...

Between Father’s Day and graduation season, June is the month of dads and grads. So, in this special episode, we’re profiling eight of the agency’s fathers and recent graduates. 

We get to know Parking Control Officers Lloyd Glover, Willie Moore and Harold Laughlin, Director of Parking Enforcement and Operations Ted Graff, Muni Operator Joe Kibbles, Chief of Staff and Director of External Communications Judson...

Muni service changes are coming this weekend. Beginning June 21, three bus routes will be trimmed and two others will be combined into one. The changes might be confusing, so in this episode we’ll walk you through them. We hop on board one of the affected buses and visit some of the stops and neighborhoods serviced by the other. We discuss how the adjustments were designed and the transfer options to navigate them. 

SFMTA...

It’s Mother’s Day weekend, and we are honoring moms by showcasing some of the fabulous mothers of the SFMTA. We have scores of moms on staff who keep San Francisco and the agency moving. This special episode features seven of them.

Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum, Deputy Chief of Staff Kamini Lall, Parking Control Officers Lachanee Ricard and Kynattah Hill, Multimodal Planning Manager Jean Long and Muni Opera...

It’s no secret that it can be difficult to park in San Francisco. But have you ever wondered why it may be so hard? In this episode, we discuss curb management and find out why available parking spaces seem to be so scarce in some SF neighborhoods. We hit the streets to see how curb management works and promotes safety. And we get tips on how to find parking with a minimum of frustration and how to use our new, more accessibl...

There are many things that make San Francisco … well, San Francisco. The hills, the cool summers, the architecture. And you can add to that list, our public transit system. From buses to light rail lines to our iconic cable cars, residents and visitors alike love the San Francisco Municipal Railway, also known as Muni.

This episode explores the depth of that love for Muni. We talk with riders about what they love about it. We...

Thousands of people in San Francisco depend on Muni to get where they need to go. And the SFMTA depends on fare revenue to keep the system running and to keep it clean, safe and accessible. 

In this episode, we talk about fare compliance and enforcement on Muni. Revenue Operations Senior Manager Diana Hammons and Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Rewers discuss why fares are important and how they fit into our overall budget. We ...