Comments on: SAN FRANCISCO FIGHTS FOR ITS CABLE CARS http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/01/san-francisco-fights-for-its-cable-cars/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:15:36 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Eric http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/01/san-francisco-fights-for-its-cable-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1068347 Eric Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:45:15 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7826#comment-1068347 I commuted via cable car (California Street line) daily for several years, from 1994-2004. Many other people living on Nob Hill did and probably still do. Most of the riders were locals, not tourists, during the rush hour commute times. We all used our bus pass to ride so the extra fare wasn't an issue...the tourists paid that, not us. It was great for me because it stopped a block from my front door and right in front of my office. No bus was so convenient. The Powell line is more touristy since it goes to Fisherman's Wharf and the Union Square area and it also has the turntable thing that people really love for some reason. I commuted via cable car (California Street line) daily for several years, from 1994-2004. Many other people living on Nob Hill did and probably still do. Most of the riders were locals, not tourists, during the rush hour commute times. We all used our bus pass to ride so the extra fare wasn’t an issue…the tourists paid that, not us.

It was great for me because it stopped a block from my front door and right in front of my office. No bus was so convenient.

The Powell line is more touristy since it goes to Fisherman’s Wharf and the Union Square area and it also has the turntable thing that people really love for some reason.

]]> By: Don http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/01/san-francisco-fights-for-its-cable-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1068341 Don Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:45:44 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7826#comment-1068341 Wow. Charlie, that was totally unexpected -- but I *like* it! Wow. Charlie, that was totally unexpected — but I *like* it!

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/01/san-francisco-fights-for-its-cable-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1068339 Charlie Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:16:34 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7826#comment-1068339 <p>Don:</p> Fixed. Don:

Fixed.

]]> By: StanFlouride http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/01/san-francisco-fights-for-its-cable-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1068337 StanFlouride Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:31:14 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7826#comment-1068337 “The claim is made that the resulting cable car system will be reduced to the status of a ‘tourist trap.’ Nothing is farther from the truth. Unfortunately, that is EXACTLY what happened. They are part of the MUNI bus/streetcar system but cost $3.00 (twice the normal fare). Locals use them but only in the off season or on rare occasions. I love them but don't ride them. There are now 3 lines, I think that was all that were left by the time of this article. They are the only moving US National Landmark and cost the City a fortune to keep up. When I first moved to SF in the 1970s I used to commute on them every day. Standing on the rear platform, smoking a joint with the conductor in the afternoon- ahhh, those were halcyon days! “The claim is made that the resulting cable car system will be reduced to the status of a ‘tourist trap.’ Nothing is farther from the truth.

Unfortunately, that is EXACTLY what happened. They are part of the MUNI bus/streetcar system but cost $3.00 (twice the normal fare). Locals use them but only in the off season or on rare occasions. I love them but don’t ride them.
There are now 3 lines, I think that was all that were left by the time of this article. They are the only moving US National Landmark and cost the City a fortune to keep up.

When I first moved to SF in the 1970s I used to commute on them every day. Standing on the rear platform, smoking a joint with the conductor in the afternoon- ahhh, those were halcyon days!

]]> By: Don http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/01/san-francisco-fights-for-its-cable-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1068333 Don Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:59:32 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7826#comment-1068333 Charlie; I hate to be a nitpicker[*], but the headline has "ITS", not "IT'S". With an apostrophe there, "it's" always means "it is", not the possessive . . . . [*]not really -- it's what I do! Charlie; I hate to be a nitpicker[*], but the headline has “ITS”, not “IT’S”. With an apostrophe there, “it’s” always means “it is”, not the possessive . . . .

[*]not really — it’s what I do!

]]> By: davee http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/01/san-francisco-fights-for-its-cable-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1068330 davee Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:21:28 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7826#comment-1068330 So what happened? Was the network reduced, or is it much the same today as it was then? So what happened? Was the network reduced, or is it much the same today as it was then?

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