Yes, yes, UK journalists, the Tenderloin isn’t the prettiest part of San Francisco. And yes, we DO have delicious Indian and Pakistani food, just like back home. But if you BBC-trained poufs can take some time off from eating enormous sandwiches, touring strip clubs and finding a ‘date’, you might see that the Tenderloin is a pretty awesome hood with some hometown pride. Witness this story from local ladyblogger Foxylibrarian:
While I was riding my bike to work through the heart of the Tenderloin… the chain popped off my gears. Two men loitering and passing a bottle back and forth on the corner ran up and expertly replaced the chain on the gear and provided me with a very patient and informative lecture about how to shift properly. They also waved away my attempts to pay them. Thank you to them!
Foxylibrarian–rowr!–also mentioned in her post a pet peeve of mine: oblivious people reading or playing music while sitting in the front MUNI seats reserved for the elderly and disabled. I don’t like giving up my seat anymore than anyone else, but I have given it to a super-preggers, about-to-pop woman while a 20-something dude next to me just kept nodding his head to the beat. Another time, I saw a blonde in a Juicy Couture (aka Juicy Cooter) track suit chatting on her phone while a man leaning on a cane swayed in front of her, so I got up and moved to the back of the bus. Especially in the Loin, there are a lot of elderly and disabled riding MUNI. So please, peeps, be aware. Look around. And if you can spare a seat, all the better.
2 Comments until now
Agreed. This issue does not get brought up enough! I hate seeing some 19 year old girl who just got off work at Forever 21, sitting in one of the reserved seats and then watching an elderly woman get on, scan the bus to see if there is anywhere she can sit down. The old folks should just start beating people with their canes. If you take the bus in Chinatown and dont give your seat up, you will get your ass beat.
A few years ago I saw a frail, elderly couple walking down Sutter Street. The woman fell, and the man lacked the strength to help. Immediately, two young men that I can only describe as looking like ghetto thugs ran across the street, helped the woman up, and carried her to the couple’s car.
I would have been afraid of these two young men if I were passing them on a dark street, yet they proved themselves compassionate and helpful.