MUNI – 7R-Haight/Noriega Rapid

The 7R is just as good as the 71L was. In fact, it’s nicer, mainly because it usually sports newer buses than any of the other workaday weekday buses that cruise Haight Street.
The Muni-​only red-​carpet lanes near the beginning of Haight Street were a great idea, and this time at least, the great Muni idea translated well into reality – now, if the police would start busting people for illegally driving in these lanes.. ..

I was going to Outer Sunset from downtown. When looking up bus lines, this seemed like the most direct way to meet my girlfriend up for dinner.
The bus goes down market and then through the Haight before going into Outer Sunset. Given the amount of stops through busy neighborhoods, I think this bus should be bigger. I’ve been packed like a sardine on my regular bus route, but it never seems this bad.
Also, the amount of personalities on this bus is interesting. We had someone talk to themselves the whole way, a girl constantly whack me with her long hair and a guy that wouldn’t move. The hair whacking was unnecessary though. Since the seats in the front are low and the girl had long hair, every time she moved, her hair would get in my face. I’d stay away from the seats on the lower level and stick to the ones in the back.
A very long and unenjoyable bus ride.

The 7R-​Haight /​Noriega Rapid
+3 Stars limited stops and save minutes
–2 Stars Need more stop skipping on Lincoln Way.

Looking at the reviews of this here 71L are from mostly 2009, and are mostly positive, so they have a different perception of what the idea of L — Limited should be. Maybe everyone was less entitled in 2009, or maybe just everyone’s less entitled than me who wants something to be what they say they are — like a Limited Bus Line.
And, maybe they haven’t experienced the joy that is a true Limited Muni bus — the 1AX & 1BX. If you’ve ever wanted to fly through Bush faster than Bieber, Mario Lopez & Lohan combined, ride the 1BX.
The 71L though has only a fistful less of stops than its L-​less counterpart the 71. Sure, this line is tackling two streets in the city that span the spectrum of addiction: weed, booze & crack — from Haight to Franklin to Market & 6^th, which really means… let’s just stop less. After riding this thing for awhile now… no one needs to get on or off between Haight & Octavia and Market & 4^th. And, stopping along other than Masonic & Divis, Octavia takes away the entire notion of being Limited.
The expectation of being a Limited line means I’ll get from A to B faster, and that’s not the case with this line. You may be thinking this is a first world problem. Maybe. It may even be a Zero World Problem. Really though… if we’re not getting bus lines right in the first world, and they are in other countries, we’re not first, and SF thinks it’s first, it’s not when it comes to this.
Final Idea: Because of the 71L’s route that rolls through The Haight & tourists love buses — both topless double deckers, The Duck, and this Muni line… how about the L stands for Locals and the other 71 is for tourists? Tourists are touring The Haight 7 days a week (from personal experience since living here). Or at the least… it’s for Locals only during work week morning & evening transit hours. Eh?

Tourists totally slow down the bus, which is a shame since it would take you downtown from GG park SO fast without that stop in touristy Haight (and all the tourists asking questions to the driver… ugh).

I tell our tourists that they really haven’t experienced San Francisco until they ride MUNI. The 30-​Stockton inbound through China town is a must but the 71 Haight-​Noriega is a close runner up.
If you really want to dive into what this city has to offer take this but from Market to lower Height on the weekend. Not only will it be filled with happy go lucky tourist wanting to see what the Height has to offer but also it’s filled with filthy homeless kids who live off your change. I love this bus and it stops two blocks from my house so I take it all the time.
If you really want to hear some true San Francisco conversation about drugs or messed up life on the street from the kid next to you take this carnival ride I highly recommend it.

Ohmygod. ‘Limited’ certainly isn’t referring to the amount of crazy you’re exposed to.
But do take this instead of the regular 71, it’s so much faster for hauling your worthless shit to Wasteland/​Crossroads/​Buffalo/​Held Over and etc.

The 71 line overall is pretty good especially the 71L.
THE 71:
— Yup, the crowd on this baby definitely requires some getting used to as far as noise level, body and apparel odor, dogs, arguments, conversations (heard two guys talk about how he likes to wake up to a beer because the caffeine in it helps), tote bags (why! oh why!?) and drunks (yes, even on an 8AM Monday commute)
— Good idea to have a book to read /​iPod to listen to /​sunglasses to glaze over
— Primary bottleneck occurs on Laguna between Haight and Page with all the turns its gotta make
— Gets you downtown from the Inner Sunset (9^th and Lincoln) in about 35 minutes
— Gets you downtown even quicker if you get off at Market and Van Ness and take the underground
— Stops at almost every block on Haight, so if you’re in a hurry to get somewhere… this ain’t your ride
THE 71L:
— Since it has limited stops (about 3 on Haight between Stanyan and Divisadero), crowd is pretty decent but it does lead to a rather packed bus sometimes
— That being said, since most of the time its a hybrid bus, I don’t mind it since these new buses have a great suspension and ride low, so you don’t rocked around so much
— Gets me from 9^th and Lincoln to 4^th and Market in 20 minutes
— No bottleneck like the 71 since this turns right onto Laguna and heads straight down to Market
— If you’re looking to get downtown quick… this be yo ride

As far as buses go, from what I have experienced, the 71L is pretty great. I haven’t experienced extreme smelliness or anything else too terrible. In the morning for my commute, I am so happy that I am on a limited bus. Each stop its limited route skips allowed me to sleep in for another minute or two. It can be crowded and some of the buses have really, really awkward seating, but the 71L is pretty solid.

a few words of advise.
1. bring your ipod.
2. cover your nose at times.
3. don’t pet the dog it’s tempting DON’T PET IT!
4. wash your hands when you get home.
5. wear comfortable shoes on weekdays because the bus gets REALLY packed.
6. 4:30 — 6:30 RUSH HOUR.

You know, I never thought I’d give any aspect of the Muni system five stars, but here goes. The sweet lil’ 71 Limited stop bus picks me up, BAM, from the bus stop right outside my apartment in the Inner Sunset. It is reliable, coming at the same time every morning. The drivers are generally polite, and the one time a driver lost his shit and started cursing and yelling at some rude guy, he apologized profusely to us all. And I thought the driver was justified anyway.
Now get this, not only does it come at the same time every morning, but I can ALWAYS get a seat. None of that N-​Judah/​16AX cattle-​car bullshit. Sure, the 71L takes a little longer, but I can read for the full thirty minutes it takes for me to be dropped *right* in front of my office at the embarcadero.
I was recently a little nauseated by a guy clipping his fingernails in a back seat. He wasn’t just clipping a broken nail or something, he was systematically taking care of the whole set. Nasty. No one seemed to be as grossed out as I was, but whatever. Anyway, I recognize this is an isolated occurance and not Muni’s fault.
71L: Keep up the great work.