One of the toughest jobs in the city

Rochelle Fuller checks the mirror to make sure passengers are clear of the rear doors on the 44-O'Shaughnessy line. Chronicle photo by Paul Chinn.

(I often make the comment that transit is one of the only traditional "industries" left in cities.)

DC1974 calls our attention to this story, "Despite obstacles, Muni driver rolls ahead," from the San Francisco Chronicle, about the workday of a MUNI bus driver. And the San Francisco MUNI system, for the 45 square miles or so of the city, has about as many riders as the WMATA subway system.

1,000 -- Approximate number of buses, street cars and cable cars in Muni's fleet
80 -- Number of Muni routes
686,000 -- Average daily ridership

The culture on buses is interesting. In DC anyway, most drivers drive the same routes, you have a core group of riders, people kind of know each other, there is camaraderie, if you're short a dime you can probably get away with it, etc.

But I've always thought that driving a transit bus is one of the toughest jobs around. You can have unruly passengers, drunks, occasional thugs, extremely loud youths, etc. Not to mention all the other vehicles and obstructions on the roads.

I try to say thank you every time I get off the bus.

Traffic during morning rush hour clogs up the streets in Glen Park, slowing the progress of the 44-O'Shaughnessy line. Chronicle photo by Paul Chinn.