There is no better way to enjoy the steep streets of San Francisco than by riding on a cable car, a true icon of the city. Immerse yourself in a crowd of people already on the car to enjoy a journey as you watch the conductor use his full body strength to speed up, slow down or stop the car. The ringing of the bell completes the experience. Cable cars were once in jeopardy of being removed from the city when electric buses were introduced. Cable car enthusiasts fought to keep them in the city and they have since become a protected historical attraction making them a permanent part of San Francisco.
Hang on to the outside railings of the cable car to enjoy a better view of San Francisco as you move along the line. Be careful, however, of other objects going past you--particularly other cable cars as there are only a few inches away.
Sit on the inside of the cable car for a great view of the cable car operator running the cable car from the front middle section of the car. You can see the break and the various levers used to make the car stop or start accordingly. This equipment requires great strength on the part of the operator and it is amazing to watch him in action. This is something you really won't experience from the outside of the car.
Hop on the trolley once it comes to a complete stop at one of the streets on the line rather than at the beginning or end of the line. Because so many tourists want to take a ride, the lines are usually long and can take up to an hour to get on the cable car. You can usually get right on if there's room at stops along the route.
Head to the end of the cable car line to watch as two cable car operators use their bodies to spin the cable cars around with the help of a turntable. Turning the car around at the end of the line is necessary since it's operated from the middle of the car.
Visit the Cable Car Museum located on 1201 Mason Street. See the last original cable car, learn more about the history of it and the inventor, and witness the enormous engines and winding wheels that pull the cables. Here you actually get to see the cables come in from the street, go through the winding wheels and back out into the street again. Souvenirs are available.
