Are cable cars round trip?

Basic Rules of the Ride Tickets/Receipts are not valid as transfers and are NOT round trip. You can get on the Cable Car at any stop along the way where you see the Cable Car stop pole. The Conductors will stop at each stop pole to let people on and off.



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Despite their good characteristics, aerial cable cars also have certain limitations:
  • Speed limited to 12 m/s or 43,2 km/h.
  • Capacity limited to 4,000 persons/h.
  • Suitable only for distances up to 7 km (gondolas with intermediate stations)
  • Wind resistance, normally up to 18 m/s (65 km/h), bi-cable systems 90 km/h.


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San Francisco is known for these little cars that climb steep hills and veer around corners. The best place to ride is standing on the edge, hanging onto the pole. What a view! The cable car owes its invention to the problem horses had drawing carts up and down in this city in the 1800s.

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Cable cars are the most expensive of San Francisco's public transportation options, in part because they're as much an attraction as they are a way to get around. The $7 one-way ticket price applies to everyone—adults, youth and seniors (except in the very early morning before 7am and late night after 9pm).

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During busy times, there is likely to be a very long line at this stop. However, the cars run every ten minutes or so and each car holds up 65 people so the line often moves more quickly than you'd expect. TIP: If you want to avoid the long line then you can walk north a few blocks and get the car at the next stop.

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Don't get me wrong, the cable cars operate safely in the rain all the time. On occasion, though, there are more extreme conditions that argue for the prudent use of bus shuttles. Usually in rainy conditions, grip persons keep an abundance of sand in the cable car sand reservoir to help with braking.

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Cable cars are in intermittent service during the month of August while we test them on all cable car routes. You are welcome to ride them when available for free. Please do not purchase cable car tickets for riding during August 2021.

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Cable cars are scheduled to operate every 8-15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Cable car tickets and one-day Cable Car Passes are sold on board cable cars by the conductors. Conductors can make change for up to $20.

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Cable cars average about an accident a month and routinely rank among the most accident-prone mass transportation modes in the country per vehicle mile traveled annually, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Over the last 10 years, city officials have reported 126 accidents injuring 151 people.

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California Line (Red) It's the least busy of the three. It's also full of thrills as it climbs the steep hill from California and Market to the top of Nob Hill, then runs back downhill to Van Ness.

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The car will then slowly move forward, and a further, and stronger, pull locks the grip to the cable and brings the car up to its cruising (and maximum) speed, of 9.5 mph. To stop the car, the grip lever is thrown forward to disengage the grip, and the hand brake lever pulled on.

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