University of Virginia Library

No More Bus

The week-ends are when the
Haight takes on a special kind
of excitement. Tourists, "weekend
hippies," policemen, and of
course the ever-present press fill
the streets until traffic is stopped
for miles. The hippies seemed to
take a "live and let live" attitude
towards the infringement on
their community for a long time,
but now they are beginning to
rebel. The Grey Line sightseeing
bus no longer travels through
Haight-Ashbury because the hippies
rebelled and held mirrors to
the buses' windows so the tourists
could get a good look at
themselves. But the tourists have
merely returned to their cars,
which they drive down Haight
Street with locked doors and
closed windows as if the hippies
were about to riot (an action
greatly disdained by the hippies).

Sunday is the day of life in
Haight-Ashbury. It is when the
rock-bands play in the park for
all to enjoy. Such names as the
Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful
Dead, and Big Brother and the
Holding Company mingle with
the thousands that come to hear
the free concerts. The Hell's
Angels appear and settle in with
no trouble and less attention,
except from the tourists. The
psychedelic stores flourish, selling
their posters, papers, and
pot-holders. Flowers are exchanged
among the hippies, and
all agree what a beautiful
and a beautiful life it is.