San Francisco’s cable cars are a popular tourist attraction and mode of transportation, but they were not the first cable cars. The cable car connects to the cable through a grip and is controlled from a central power station. Cable cars travel at a relatively low speed and are manually operated by a grab man and conductor. Riding a cable car can be expensive, but it is worth it for the historic experience.
The cable car is often synonymous with San Francisco. These little cars, attached to wires, zipping up and down Powell Street in the heart of San Francisco are a favorite tourist attraction. Many residents also hop on a cable car for a block or two to avoid walking through the hilly downtown areas.
However, San Francisco did not have the first network of cable cars. The London and Blackwell Railway had the first cable railway in 1840. The early cables were not particularly strong, and the system was quickly superseded by steam engines in 1848. True cable cars were first operated in New York in 1868. San Francisco introduced a cable car in 1873, as part of the Clay Street Hill Railroad.
Other countries and cities soon followed San Francisco, and cable car networks were available in Chicago, once again in New York, in England, and in Australia. However, the cable car has arguably enjoyed the longest run and greatest popularity in San Francisco.
A key feature of the cable car is of course the cable that is under the car. The cable car connects to the cable through the use of a grip. The cable essentially moves the car and is controlled from a central power station. Also, riding on tracks or rails controls the destination of the cable car. If one sees a cable car with wheels, it is not a real cable car, but an imitation.
A cable car like those found in San Francisco travels at a relatively low speed, less than 10 mph (16.09 kph). This is still enough to cause accidents, and there have been some pretty gruesome injuries in San Francisco cable car history. Cable car operators can apply the brakes, but these tend to work slowly and do not always slow the car down in time to avoid hitting obstacles. However, accidents are few compared to the statistics on car or even bus accidents in San Francisco.
The cable car is open, and one can gain various entry points to the car. Essentially, people just jump on when the cable car almost comes to a stop. People can choose to sit in the center of the car and are therefore protected by the roof. However, many like to sit on the outside benches, which offer a full view of the surroundings. The benches on either side of the cable car face the sidewalks and are easier to exit.
Cable cars in San Francisco are manually operated. This means that each employs a grab man, or grab woman, to grab and unhook the cable in order to change lines or control speed. Each cable car also has a conductor who takes the fares and makes sure that the passengers behave safely. World-renowned poet Maya Angelou once worked as a bell ringer on the San Francisco cable car network.
Riding a cable car can be quite expensive if one is not a resident of the city. Most residents who use the various public transportation systems in San Francisco purchase a monthly fast pass, which allows them to ride buses, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and streetcars, as well as cable cars. For the person who just occasionally rides a cable car, the adult fare is currently 5 US dollars (USD). However, one can travel for a dollar before 7 am
The price is often worth it, since one is traveling in truly historic transport. You can also visit the Cable Car Museum in San Francisco. It is located at 1201 Mason Street, and also offers an online store for purchasing cable car memorabilia.
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