The Municipal Transportation Agency Board approved the latest round of settlements for claims against the system today. This includes the case of Joyce Lam, a 76 year-old woman killed by a cable car in 2006, as we reported in a follow-up to our investigation into cable car safety. We first compared the accident and injury rate of San Francisco’s cable cars to all other forms of public transportation in 1998, and found the alarming headline – cable cars are the most dangerous form of public transportation in the country.
As part of today’s report, I requested updated data on the MTA safety records for the different modes of transportation. The only information I received was this chart showing the type and number of claims filed against MUNI for the past six fiscal years and the costs associated with those claims. Last year, the MTA paid out $11,389,042.46.
Hi Dan:
Cable cars are known to be the most dangerous mode of transit in the world. Yet, Muni,and the Unions [with Mrs. Klussman's charter amendment] continue to exploit the City. Work on the CC is the easiest in the world, and you get to socialize with the tourists and all this at rapid transit system pay. Rain or shine, in the middle of winter they run when there are no riders.Disney and other theme parks would never make any money using CCars. Yet SF with its politicians just keep going merrily along, losing big money and maiming and killing people.
ray
Posted by: ray quan | February 03, 2009 at 09:51 PM
How about the unavoidable accident Muni has gotten into i.e. jaywalkers?
Posted by: muni employee | February 03, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Dan,
I ride Muni home towards Cal Trans Depot and tonight, when I boarded the 2-car N-Judah toward Mission Bay at the Montgomery Station at round 8:50 p.m. or so, everything was going fine.
I and another passenger boarded the 2nd car, the one in the rear because the doors opened at the Montgomery Station and at the Embarcadero Station as well. However, before we left the Embarcadero Station, there was some confusion as to if the 2-car train was going all the way to Cal Trans. However, 3 Muni representatives on the Embarcadero platform confirmed that we were on a through train.
But when we reached the Folsom platform the doors in the 2nd car didn’t open and the same thing happened at the Brannan stop where I generally exit.
Therefore, we used the intercom to alert the driver that we were stuck on the 2nd Car and couldn't get out at the Brannan stop so he apologized and open the doors.
This is the 2nd time within the last week this has occurred. I have experienced this about 6 times in the last 2 years riding the N-Judah.
Is there a way for drivers to be alerted when there are passengers stuck in the 2nd car?
Posted by: Muni Patron | February 09, 2009 at 11:30 PM