Review: San Francisco Cable Cars

Tell me: What’s this place all about?

The origin story of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars started with necessity. It was the horse-and-carriage era, both of which had a tough time getting up and down San Francisco’s notoriously steep hills, especially in the fog and rain. So, a system of cars latched to spinning underground cables was created, pulling residents up and down city streets by 1873. At one time, San Francisco had eight different cable car routes, but cars, buses, and other methods of faster and more modern means of transportation moved in over the following decades. Believe it or not, in 1947 there was an effort to rid San Francisco completely of its cable car system. But with counterculture blood coursing through their veins, San Franciscans protested and saved the three remaining lines. Cable cars are now a symbol of San Francisco on the world's last manually operated cable car system. They’re also one of the city’s most popular attractions, with an estimated 9.7 million people hopping aboard each year. The vast majority are tourists, but some residents still use these moving monuments to crisscross the city, just as was intended more than 150 years ago.

What’s it like being there? 

A blend of an open-air bus and a slow-moving roller coaster. When you board, you'll either sit on the wooden benches for a more comfortable ride, or seek thrills and stand on the car's exterior, gripping the poles as the car moves up and down the steep streets of San Francisco.

Who comes here?  

Though its mostly tourists (more than 9 million to be exact) who ride each year, some city dwellers still use them to commute or get across town. Residents should do it, especially if they have never ridden a cable car before. First-time visitors, too, if only to ride a unique piece of San Francisco history.

Did it meet expectations? 

Yes it's cliché, yes it's touristy, but that doesn't make it a bad thing.These moving monuments are a symbol of San Francisco, and a useful and fun way to get across the city.

So then what, or who, do you think it’s best for? 

First time visitors to San Francisco will love it. The cost is currently $8 per ride, and the MuniMobile app makes it easy to pay quickly and cash free. Lines at the turnstiles (the beginning/end points of each of the three cable car lines) have long line ups, especially during summer. Tip: you can board a cable car at various stops along the route, and they usually have no lines. Tip 2: The California Line is the least busy and still offers a great ride.