Cassandra Griffin, also known as Cable Car Cassandra, is one of our Safe Driver Award winners this year.
Being a Muni operator is an important and challenging job. It’s not easy to drive a cable car, streetcar or 40- or 60-foot bus through the streets of San Francisco. Yet, hundreds of operators have stepped up to the plate and get behind the wheel every day.
They keep our city moving up and down San Francisco’s iconic hills. They help people get everywhere, including to work, school, the grocery store and the doctor. And of course, Muni is a great way to get to museums, concerts and sporting events.
All our Muni operators make safety a top priority. And those who drive at least 1,952 hours without any preventable incidents or collisions during the fiscal year (July – June) earn an official safe driving record for that year.
Our riders matter. Their safety matters.
Top of the class
179 operators have met the safe driving standard for 15 years or more. We’ll be recognizing those operators at the Safe Driver Awards dinner this Saturday.
“It’s my 18th year as a Muni driver,” said Safe Driver Award winner Voltaire Barsana. “Safe driving isn’t a job – it’s a way of life.”
“I’m a conductor on the Powell/Hyde cable car line,” explained Safe Driver Cassandra Griffin. “And as Cable Car Cassandra, I take pride in offering safe, memorable rides to visitors from around the world.”
Of the 179 operators we are honoring, 111 have 20 years or more of safe driving under their belts. Three operators have met the safe driving standard for more than 35 years:
• Oliverio Valle, 51 years of safe driving
• Lonnie Moore, 48 years of safe driving
• Angel Carvajal, 36 years of safe driving
“As a Muni driver on the 38R with almost 20 years of experience, I’m proud to help mothers with young children in strollers reach their destinations safely,” Safe Driver Siu Leung told us.
“Since 2000, I’ve driven the 36 Teresita and 48 Quintara buses, safely transporting students, teachers and seniors to their destinations each day,” said Safe Driver Raymond Robinson.
Safe Driver Award winner Voltaire Barsana has been a Muni operator for almost two decades.
“Thank you, Operator!”
Muni operators brave smoke-filled air during wildfire seasons. They face street flooding during rainstorms. And they navigate traffic delays and transit reroutes during major events like Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and Fleet Week.
The next time you ride Muni, please take a minute to thank your operator. They make sure we get to our destinations safely so we can enjoy our great city.
And a small gesture of appreciation can go a long way.