Muni anti-panhandling study/strategy (2010)

1. Anti-panhandling Strategies
as told by Alan Arguelles

2. Types of people you’ll see
at the MUNI bus
..and how to best deal with panhandlers

3. Fact:
672,000 = Passengers at the MUNI on a weekday basis
*This does not include the people who ride for free
1 Out of 10 people at the bus
shelters are pan handlers.

4. Gossip
* Likes to talk about people with friends / other passengers

5. Gossip
Anxiety
Engagement
Stimulation
* Since socializing occupies most of their time at the bus,
panhandlers take their time in talking to them as a group

6. MUNI solution:
Encouraging this type of people to socialize with the panhandlers
while not offering money gives panhandlers the signal that they are
kind but will not give money at any time

7. Less sociable
* They're usually occupied either reading a book, listening to music, or
Tinkering with mobile devices

8. Less sociable
Anxiety
Engagement
Stimulation
* Since time efficiency is this group’s key, panhandlers use the
tactic of quick interruption

9. MUNI solution:
Offering a free service that will help this type be more efficient
makes them focus more - and less on the panhandlers

10. Wallflower
* Usually alone and carries a lot of things, very considerate
for space or just paranoid

11. Wallflower
Anxiety
Engagement
Stimulation
* They may look unoccupied, but they anticipate they’re bus stop;
panhandlers usually stand in front of them and say less - making
themselves annoying so they could get money so they would go away

12. MUNI solution:
Take advantage of their anxiety. Providing a place where they can
store the things they bring in the bus, makes them focus on their things
more - and not on the panhandlers

13. Space Hoarders
* They don’t carry a lot of things with them on the bus, but they
occupy a lot of space

14. Space Hoarders
Anxiety
Engagement
Stimulation
* These people are philanthropic when a lot of people could see their
good deeds, panhandlers take advantage of this at night or midday

15. MUNI solution:
Socializing with this type makes them occupied - and they are not
happy when panhandlers interrupt them while they’re talking to
someone else

16. Fun Riders
* Only takes the bus when going to city wide events such as
the Bay to Breakers

17. Fun Riders
Anxiety
Engagement
Stimulation
* These people are fun and sociable, panhandlers make interesting
stories during their younger years, hoping that they will win sympathy
from this group

18. MUNI solution:
Providing more city-wide events makes this type even more engaged
at the city’s events, they’ll take the bus more often and wil be
less sympathetic to panhandlers eventually