»In which it suits MUNI to a 'T'

"It don't make no sense,'' said Melvin Henderson, 42, an amputee who relies on transit. "Instead of making it easier, it's going to make it harder for us. What they're trying to do is make it look pretty, but it's creating problems. All they needed was an upgraded bus.''

That is: the much-heralded, long-anticipated arrival of MUNI's Third Street Light Rail fell short. Even though today was the first day of actual service, the trip was lengthy, the signals poorly-timed, and the conductors still unfamiliar with the names of stops — that last is not a significant criticism, and if MUNI were to actually put route maps or stickers anywhere, such as inside the carriages or at the platforms, I could more easily find my way around.
I am glad that more MUNI lines will intersect, and that higher-speed transit will become available through a larger section of this city, but! San Francisco deserves better than surface transit that has to share so signal timing with private, automotive traffic. I thought that part of the technological improvement promised for this line included automatic signals and priority switching for transit, but both of our trips encountered significant delays at big intersections, including a five-minute pause where the Third Street drawbridge needed to open.
The Third Street route avoids the drawbridge, heading over the historic Fourth Street Bridge, but appears still susceptible to traffic on Third.