Cable Car – California Street Line

The worst experience ever with a bad driver, she thought that she was the queen of the cable car. With a total direspect to her customers…

Horrible service! Paid $ 80 for day passes for family of four. Rode cable car one leg, then we waited over an hour in line that barely moved. Ended up walking back over hill to hotel. We later tried again and boarded an over loaded car, which went one stop then the employees got off and left! After 20 minutes of standing inside the hot/​smelly car, we exited and walked. DO NOT BUY THE DAY PASSES, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RIDE MORE THAN ONE LEG. THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CARS AND PURPOSELY DELAY TO LEAVE YOU WAITING. SO THE «CAR COMES EVERY 15 MINUTES IS BULL».

It become just touristic attraction. It’s difficult to get on, conductors just hang out around and make people waiting for them for hours just because… $ 7 single ride and $ 20 day pass.

A moving national monument. And you can take that both ways. The trick is getting on one.
After a gut-​stuffing dinner on Fisherman’s Wharf, just about the last thing you want to do is stand motionless on a conveyance that stops every minute while cheek-​to-​jowl with others in your exact same lot. On those occasions, just hoof it. You’ll be rid of the bloat before you hit your hotel elevator.
But the rest of the time, particularly when the restaurants aren’t all letting out, the California Street Line is a must-​do. As it rounds the turntable down at the foot of the street, you await your shot at boarding with the anticipation of a Disney ride. And if they’re not every bit as patented, they are every bit as unique: When San Francisco’s cable cars are gone, the species will be extinct.
Don’t expect a Duck Boat tour though. This is a living, breathing part of Bay Area transportation that residents rely on to surmount Nob Hill. The electric streetcars don’t make the climb, and if you do on two feet, you’ll have achieved something. So just hop aboard, hold a pole and enjoy this open-​air anachronism without losing site of basic etiquette — or your valuables.

The California Street line is the least touristy of the 3 cable car lines, and my personal favorite! It’s faster than the Powell lines, and there is almost never a wait. Having lived in Nob Hill, I used to take the California line down to Embarcadero for my daily commute. It’s very convenient — comes every few minutes in the mornings. However, the evening frequency is a bit sporadic. I’ve never had an issue getting a seat on the cable car, regardless of destination and time of day.
For tourists who are looking for the experience of riding a cable car (and not necessarily looking to take it between Ghiradelli and Powell), I’d recommend the California street line.

This is the third of the Cable Car lines that are still around. It’s the one that doesn’t go to the Powell Station and go to The Fishermans Wharf area. That means it s less of a tourist trap. There isn’t a line for an hour. It also doesn’t take you to/​from Fishermans Wharf.
Riding a Cable Car is practically a required activity in The City. Iconic, you have seen it your whole life on Rice-​a-​Roni commercials. They have a long history in San Francisco (check out the Cable Car Museum).
It is a good line to ride. Up and Down hills, it carries you through interesting neighborhoods. So jump on, Pay your fare, grab a seat or a place to hang on the car (fun) and take a ride! It’s just one of those «I am finally doing this» things to do,” Then take the streetcar to Fishermans Wharf.

I suppose it seems like a bit of a no-​brainer to write a 5-​star review of a Cable Car in SF. I’m not sure if there’s a more iconic form of public transit anywhere in the US. But that said, the California Cable Car Line is particularly under-​rated because it’s more than just an attraction — it’s a highly practical mode of transit. This is the working-man’s Cable Car. It deserves a few moments of recognition.
I’ll admit — I’m a little biased. I live on California Street. The Cable Car stops directly in front of my building. I work on-​and-​off in the Financial District. And, I get a Muni-​Pass every month. Is there a better set-​up for public transit? To hop on the Cable Car and pop over Nob Hill in the morning is amazing. In the morning, it is all commuters, and you can probably identify the time you catch it by the group of regulars. For the most part, the cars don’t start getting crowded until after Hyde when heading downtown — not too many times having to hang off the side. The cars run pretty darn regularly, and you can see if a car is coming soon since you have a good view of Nob Hill to the top. It’s also great down on the Polk Gulch side because when you see the car do to the West Turnaround, you know it’ll be coming back pretty quick.
The commute back at night is a bit different story. Tourists hit this in full-​force around rush hour (Tourist Tip: Don’t do this) — it’s crowded. You might see a full car even by Sansome. If you’re a regular, there’s a pretty good chance the brakeman will get you a spot, if it’s one of the good ones. BTW — There are some awesome brakemen (think drivers) and conductors (ticket-​takers). There one or two who aren’t awesome. You’ll figure it out quick if you are a regular.
Tourist Tips:
*Get a Muni-​Passport if you visit and plan to ride the Cable Car. It’s $ 7 one-​way, so this will be worth it.
*You’ll notice that the California Line is two-​sided. This is because there are no turns, and because the grade isn’t as steep as on the Powell Lines. This also means there aren’t turn-​tables — they just start going the other direction and switch tracks on the way back.
*This is a commuter line — so I’d avoid it from 5−7pm if you don’t want to be packed on.
*Don’t bring luggage on the Cable Car. It really doesn’t work.
*The walk up Nob Hill is a lot longer and steeper heading West — so if you only take it one way, make sure this is the direction you choose.
*From West to East, the line will hit: Van Ness Avenue (connects with ⁴⁷⁄₄₉ Muni), Polk Gulch (Adult Disneyland — lots of Bars and Restaurants, connects with 19 Muni), the top of Nob Hill between Jones/​Mason (Grace Catherdral, Huntington Park, Fairmont/​Mark Hopkins/​Scarlett Huntington Hotels), Powell Street (connects with the other two Cable Car Lines), Grant Street (Chinatown), Montgomery (555 California Building), then the FiDi, the ends at Front Street/​the beginning of California/​Market Street which will be convenient to the Embarcadero, Embarcadero BART/​Muni, and the Ferry Building.
*The Cable Car by night is beautiful, particularly heading East down the hill. But, it will be chilly.
Fun Local Tips/​Facts:
*This line used to run all the way to Fillmore. In it’s heydey, the travel time end to end was 21 minutes, which is faster than it is usually doable in a car now.
*If you live on the line, you can tell if it’s 6am yet without opening your eyes. Just listen for the hum of the cable.
*If you plan to be a regular, make friends with the Brakemen and Conductors. They aren’t going anywhere.
*If you like the Cable Cars, thank Friedel Klussmann. She led the fight to save them.

Took this line last Saturday during Thanksgiving weekend. Was spending the day being a tourist in SF and we had day passes and decided to ride this line as well. Earlier in the day we took the Powell Street line from downtown to the Marina. This line is an entirely different experience!
First of all there were almost no passengers on board and hardly any waiting to get on at all the stops! I personally love this line because the hills going towards the Bay Bridge are huge and it’s fun when you’re standing up on the car and going down. Loved going by all the fancy hotels and Grace Cathedral! If you buy the day passes and have the time I’d definitely recommend this line! And if you have kids and can’t wait hours at the Powell Street station, this is the way to go.

Brought me down memory lane. I grew up SF when there were a lot more cable cars and I used to ride them with my mom, as I used to beg her to leave the car to go to the financial district to meet up with dad for meals sometimes. Since it starts RIGHT in front of the Hyatt, it was an easy way for us to get around town.
We bought the all day pass from Walgreens for $ 17pp — Walgreens is right across the street. Make sure you scratch the month and day before getting on as they’ll come check your pass and get a bit disgruntled when you take up too much time when there’s sooo many people they have to be keeping their eyes on.
I certainly wouldn’t be using this for transportation if I was living or working in the area unless I had all the time in the world — hence, the majority of passengers being tourists (like us, at least this time around)!

Just had a extremely bad experience with cable car. Sad to say so, because I always like cable car. I was just told I can’t use my MUNI monthly pass to take the cable car anymore. And the ticket controller was the rudest guy I’ve never seen, no idea of respect and politeness at all. I feel the public transportation in SF sucks, and it’s becoming an unaffordable and a user-​unfriendly city. Wish SF could do something to make the local people commute better.

I love riding the cable car and will sometimes jump aboard to get to my meetings and appointments downtown.
I like to sit up front and pretend I’m on San Francisco’s Roller Coaster as it heads up and down California Street towards the Financial District. Although it is more expensive than Muni, the experience leaves me with a smile on my face (which is unlike my Muni experiences).
If you have not been on a cable car, JUST DO IT already~! It’s a great way to see the city and ride a bit of San Francisco history.

There used to be as many as 23 cable car lines in San Francisco. Today, we are down to just three. Two of them begin at Powell and Market, the third, the California Street Line, begins at California and Drumm.
This route is much less organized than there other two. There is no ticket booth here. You can either buy a ticket at Powell & Market and walk back several long Market blocks, or board the cable car and pay cash. We did the latter.
There is no official line to board the cable cars like at Powell. People hover just outside the yellow lines like a swarm of bees, and when a cable car pulls in, there is a mad dash for seats which reminded me of musical chairs. Those who do not have a place to sit can stand on the outside running boards, or stand inside the cab.
A word of warning: look both ways before getting off the cable car. Cars pass by within feet in the adjoining lane, not all drivers expect passengers to get off in the middle of the street, and if you just hop out without looking around you might get hit by a car. Kudos to the Muni conductor who walked out and stopped traffic so that an older couple could walk to the sidewalk safely.
Compared to both of the Powell lines, the ride is shorter (13 min vs. ¹⁵⁄₁₉ min according to
). But if you want to ride the cable car route you saw in those old Rice A Roni commercials, this is the one. I think the scenery is better on this line. The cable car climbs from the beginning, and you can watch the Bay recede in the distance. You pass right by the famous Mark Hopkins hotel too.
The cable cars are also the only National Historic Landmark that moves!

There were six of us in our group and we were nervous that the cable cars would be too crowded for all of us to get on at the same time. We need not have worried. It was a Sunday afternoon and the car had enough seating for all passengers, no one was left standing, let alone hanging from the side of the car. The cost was $ 6 for the 4 adults in our group and kids ages 4 and under are free.
The ride is bumpy and the driver had to throw some body English into the brakes when some idiot car in front of us thought it was a good idea to stop abruptly in front of a cable car! So, heed the signs that advise you to hang on.
One important note for the mobility impaired and for helping children on and off, the steps are quite a leap. The bottom step to street level was nearly the same height as my 3 year old grandson, so you will probably need to lift small children off of the bottom step to the ground level.

I legally enjoyed the Cable Cars, it was really a great way of seeing San Francisco!
I love the vintage look it has, and I wish we had one in London… actually we do but in Croydon but it’s not really a touristy thing.
I got to take pictures and also pose while my friends took pictures of me. Fond memories! When I go SF again I would like to go on it again because I only took a single trip.

Can someone please explain why this line is SOOO unreliable?!
I’d like to think that I could just for once depend on this line for my daily work commute. The truth is, half the time it NEVER shows up or runs at all. There’s even been a time or two where they had to send in a MUNI as a substitute.
In addition, when the cable car actually does show up, it’s almost NEVER on time and the conductor just sits there and ignores you where the line starts at California and Drumm. I wanna yell and say, «Hello? Are you gonna pull the car in and start the line EVER you lazy, undependable P.O.S.?»
I hope the other lines aren’t this unreliable.

Cable cars are a San Francisco institution. You can’t help but love them. It takes a long time to board sometimes because of all the tourists. But, I give the tourists a break because I used to be one! Sometimes the operators can be nice and sometimes they can be grouchy, however it’s always fun going up and down California Street on the cable car.

How can you be in San Francisco and not ride the Cable Car?
Was out on an adventure with my nieces and wanted to do something fun and touristy with them. I asked them if they ever rode the cable car and they said no, WHAT??? how can this be, they live a heck of lot closer to the city than I do, so we stood in line to ride the car, the girls are still clueless on how this works, the car pulled up and I asked them if they wanted to stand on the outside of the car, the 10 year old looked at me like I was trying to ditch her or something but the 16 year old said um Yes!
The Cable Car started up the hill, the girls were smiling, then the cable car broke and we had to be pushed the rest of the way up the hill, but even that didn’t stop them from having fun.
We had a great time riding the Cable Car and it was cool to do something they haven’t done before.
Go make memories, be a tourist and RIDE THAT CABLE CAR, and grab a pic or two too!

The cable car usually runs every 6 – 7 minutes on California (financial district) and heads up the hill into Chinatown and en route to Powell and Mason. Once at the Powell street interchange, you have to get on another cable car to go northbound to the Fisherman’s Wharf area. Chances are that if you get on this car that crosses Montgomery Street while on California, it will be full. Be prepared to ride on the side of the car. For those that have never done this before, you are more than likely one foot away from being side-​swiped from a passing car on the road if you aren’t careful when hanging on the outside of the cable car. Either way, its actually an adventure!
The cable car operators are hilarious! If one of them happens to call you out by what you are wearing, don’t take it personal. They are just trying to keep order for the many people that fit into the car like a can of sardines. The fare is usually $ 6 one way, yet I highly recommend purchasing a cable car passport for $ 14. The passport has a scratch-​off for the date that you intend on riding the cable car, and can be used on an all-​day basis + all over the city. And plus, its just a very convenient way to travel.
Very fun experience that I wouldn’t mind repeating upon my next visit into the city.

Though I’ve little but love for San Francisco, the cable car’s undisputed title as «Most San Franciscan Way To Get Around» needs to be challenged.
This isn’t a critique about any particular incident on this line per se, but rather the fact that the hype simply cannot and will not live up to the fare. The mystique outshines the very real story of innovation and enduring technology.
In my view, cable cars are a lot like grandmothers.
Like your grandma (the one that you like best), this mode of transit’s slower, cautious on hills, and doesn’t go all that many places. The system’s service to the city’s past isn’t in question, and it’s as hospitable as ever too, again, just like your me-​ma. Unlike your granny though, the cable cars’ MUNI operators will take $ 6 from you instead of slipping you a $ 5 to go to the movies (let alone the fact that $ 5 might only buy the gas to get yourself to the movie theatre these days…).
For what it is (commuting for a handful of people and a living museum for the rest of us), the cable car system is fine. The views are nice; the slow pace is a plus for taking pictures and enjoying a feel of the city. For my money though, the F-​Market streetcars are a much more interesting way to check out SFO’s intra-​city rail past.
Notes:
1) Want to get a taste of the cable car culture without taking the time to ride one? Check out the Cable Car Museum near Chinatown.
2) «Yes»: if you have a Clipper card, it’ll work here.
3) If you can do so safely, it’s worth standing up for at least part of the ride. Leaning out isn’t encouraged, but tolerated (again, if it’s safe to do so).
4) Despite my somewhat dour outlook in the review, this is definitely something to do once. It’s an experience to experience.
5) Other reviewers recommend this line over the others because of the shorter wait times and lovely views. During my limited time in town, it looked as though they were all overwhelmingly right. If you just want to say that you’ve ridden, try this line first.

So if you’re still reading my reviews, you’ll realize that Emily D. and I were inseparable while living in San Francisco. One of our friendship adventures involved riding a cable car.
When I was walking down Market Street my second day living in San Francisco, I walked past the Powell and Mason line. I could not believe the lines to get onto the cable car. On the 4^th of July, we saw the other end of that line. It was like NYC at New Years. Like New York at New Year’s, I was ready to lock myself in my apartment and never come out. After a google search, we came across the California Street line. Since we could hit up Bob’s Doughnuts on the way from our apartments, we were sold. When we got to the cable car, we thought it was broken because there was NO LINE and about eight people sitting on the car. But it was just waiting in the turnaround. Score.
You mostly get some views of Knob Hill, Chinatown, and the Financial District. We got on the car at the Van Ness and California side. It was nice to get off in the Financial District because we just took the MUNI home. However, if you go the other way, make sure you have a game plan of how to get back to your hotel, if you aren’t familiar with the area. The Tenderloin is special at night.
At $ 6 a ride, this is a one time event. As this is the shortest of the cable car lines, it seems a bit unfortunate to pay this much. However, you could easily evade the fare if you have the balls. If you get on one stop in and sit away from the conductor and get off a few stops before the end, they’ll never collect your fare. They were shockingly laid back about fare evasion on the MUNI as well. Bizarre. I chose to abide by the law, but it’s your call.
Moral of the story: If you don’t mind sacrificing the view of the other cable car lines for no line, this is the cable car to ride.