Tech Bus Breaks Down, Blocks J-Church Muni Tracks Near Dolores Park In SF
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A private shuttle bus broke down while blocking San Francisco Municipal Railway tracks near Dolores Park Tuesday morning, a Muni spokesman said.
The bus broke down on the J-Church Muni tracks at the intersection of 21st and Chattanooga streets shortly after 9 a.m., blocking trains from moving through.
[tweet https://twitter.com/jak/statuses/496685617523068929 width='340']
The bus was towed away at about 9:30 a.m. but J-Church service was still recovering from the delays as of around 10 a.m.
It's not the first time a tech shuttle has gotten stuck while navigating San Francisco's hilly streets. In 2012, a Google shuttle blocked traffic after the back-end hit the bottom of a hill in Noe Valley
A video shows a pickup truck trying unsuccessfully to pull the bus free.
Last Friday, protesters blocked two buses in San Francisco's Mission District during day one of an 18-month pilot program designed to incorporate tech shuttles into the city's mass transit commute.
https://twitter.com/JeffElder/statuses/495241064060436480
Eleven permitted shuttles can now pick up commuters at 99 designated Muni stops in San Francisco so long as corporations pay the city $3.55 per stop.
These buses take people from their home to work in the Silicon Valley at Facebook, Google, Apple and other tech companies. Demonstrators say there's no room for these shuttles on San Francisco streets. They blame tech workers for raising the cost of living, leading to evictions for low-income tenants.
TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.