On Tap

The Past, Present and Future

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

“On Tap” gives you a heads up about the big events in town and what Muni routes and lines will get you to the party. Look for this feature to be posted usually on Wednesdays for a look ahead to the weekend.


Muni Heritage Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Steuart Street between Market and Mission streets

Tony Bennett often sings of “little cable cars climbing halfway to the stars,” now while that may be true, the iconic cable cars are only part of the City’s rich public transportation history that will be on full display at the third edition of Muni Heritage Weekend.

Not only preserving the past and giving context to the present, this year’s Muni Heritage will also give you a glimpse into the future for which you don’t need 1.21 gigawatts – Great Scott!

You don’t have to be a transit aficionado to enjoy taking a ride on Muni’s inaugural service vehicle, streetcar number 1, or on streetcar number 578 which happens to be the oldest operated streetcar on the North American continent.

While historic buses will operate on a special non revenue route from the San Francisco Railway Museum around Union Square and back, the last surviving cable car of the long defunct O’Farrell, Jones & Hyde line will be in service as part of the California Cable Car line.

In addition to riding vintage vehicles, historic buses and cable cars will also be on display. There will be plenty of family friendly activities including a coloring contest for the kids, a cable car bell ringing demo, live music, and a special reading of select works of Maya Angelou, who was a San Francisco streetcar conductor at the age of 16. Both days offer free gift bags stuffed with passes, memberships, discounts, and gifts for the first 100 families who attend.

Plus, spy into the future and learn about the next generation of Muni’s light rail vehicles which are scheduled to hit the streets beginning in 2016.

Heritage Weekend visitors can take the Metro subway to Embarcadero Station, the F Market or any Market Street bus service to Steuart Street.

Muni service note: the F Market and California Cable Car lines may see increased ridership. Regular fares will apply to those vintage and historic vehicles operating as part of regular F Market and cable car service routes.


Day of the Dead Procession
Sunday, 7 p.m.
Mission District

A Meso-American holiday honoring the cycle of life and death, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has been a San Francisco tradition since the 1970s. The procession, celebrating and remembering one’s departed ancestors, mixes music, art, and performances. In addition to the procession, there will be a Festival of Altars at Garfield Park from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The procession will take place in the heart of The Mission District commencing at 7 p.m. from Bryant and 22nd streets moving up 24th Street then across Mission Street down 22nd Street and back to Bryant Street.

Procession watchers and participants can utilize the 12 Folsom/Pacific, 14 Mission, 14L Mission Limited, 27 Bryant, 48 Quintara, 49 Mission/Van Ness, 67 Bernal Heights routes, or BART to 24th Street station.

Muni service note: due to the procession route and the large number of anticpated participants, the 12 Folsom/Pacific, 14 Mission, 14L Mission Limited, 27 Bryant, 48 Quintara, 49 Mission/Van Ness, and 67 Bernal Heights will have re-routes.

Orange and black face of vintage White bus 042 sits under a sycamore tree on Steuart Street
Vintage "White" bus 042 in our favorite color scheme—go, Giants!—at last year's opening celebration for Muni Heritage Weekend and Trolley Festival. November 1, 2013