Many of the first civil rights breakthroughs in public transit happened here in San Francisco. Yet few people know about them. We’re trying to change that.
Black barrier-breakers in San Francisco transit
People Histories
“Two Bells”, Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein is rightly being remembered for an astonishing range and depth of accomplishment during her 90 years of life. Her memory is a blessing to all who knew her, especially the thousands of women she mentored as a breakthrough female political leader. As the tributes pour in from world, national, state, and local leaders, we want to add a heartfelt ‘thank you’ for the rolling legacy she left her hometown: the cable cars and the F-line streetcars. As New… — Read More
Two bells, Mike Delia – “Mr. Boston”
On streetcars and cable cars, ringing the gong twice means the car is starting to move ahead. In that close-knit community, wishing a friend “two bells” means Godspeed. On August 31, 2023, one of Muni’s greatest ambassadors, F-line streetcar operator Michael Delia, passed away, saddening all who knew his contagious optimism and dedication to his passengers. Mike, a proud Bostonian to emigrated to our City by the Bay for the express purpose of becoming a “motorman” on historic streetcars, fought… — Read More
Melvin Van Peebles, Cable Car Gripman
We’ve written before of the many Black barrier breakers in San Francisco transit. These are stories that must be retold every month, not just Black History Month. People such as Mary Ellen Pleasant, Charlotte Brown, Audley Cole, Larry Martin, Welton Flynn, Curtis Green, and Maya Angelou confronted racism and resistance; all moved the needle in our City toward equity and equality, a fight that continues today. Other professions and industries have their own Black barrier breakers; and their stories too… — Read More
1947: Cable car war
In 1947, San Francisco’s mayor tried to scrap its cable cars. Women stopped him. A story of how women gained civic agency in a male-dominated era.
Farewell to fabulous photographer Fred Lyon
If there’s a special heaven for photographers, greats like Dorothea Lange, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, O. Winston Link, and many others are welcoming San Francisco’s Fred Lyon, who captured the essence of this city in the mid-20th century in images just as brilliantly as Herb Caen captured it in words. Fred’s life-well-lived ended this week at the age of 97, but his work – his legacy – will endure and grow even more important in decades to come. Fred Lyon’s… — Read More
Finding room to run
NOTE: In late June 2022, a pandemic-delayed memorial service was held for Art Curtis, retired Muni Chief Inspector, long-time Market Street Railway Secretary and Board Member, and stalwart volunteer for many nonprofit groups. Art, who passed away in 2020 just after reaching his goal of his 80th birthday, was a great storyteller, and he had some good ones! A number of years ago, we asked him to share this one in our member magazine, “Inside Track”. By Art Curtis, Market… — Read More
Celebrating Muni operators
March 18 is Transit Driver Appreciation Day. Operating transit vehicles is a challenging job, in any environment. The past two years, it has been more challenging than ever in San Francisco, given justified concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus along with all the other issues they encounter every day. In our member magazine, Inside Track, we gave a shout out in 2020 to three vintage streetcar operators, emblematic of the many who show love for San Francisco’s historic… — Read More
Maya Angelou, streetcar conductor: the full story
Before she was a famous author and poet, Maya Angelou was a streetcar conductor in San Francisco when she was just 15 years old – breaking down barriers to do so. This story looks closely at her achievement.
Celebrating F-line enablers this Pride Month
Out gay men played central roles in bringing vintage streetcar service to San Francisco in the 1980s.
Archive: All Posts