What is the least crowded cable car in San Francisco?
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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Most San Franciscans will tell you that the Powell-Hyde line is the most exciting trip to take and we wholeheartedly agree. The Powell-Hyde Street line starts at the cable car turnaround at Powell Street and Market Street (map).
Basic Rules of the RideFare receipts are issued; one-ride-only. 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.
Cable cars are often misidentified as 'trolleys', but that term refers specifically to the trolley pole used by streetcars to get power from an overhead wire (hence streetcars are often called trolleys, correctly). Cable cars use no overhead wire, and have no trolley poles.
Clipper Card is a combined card that can be used for most Bay Area Transit systems. This includes SF Muni, BART, Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans, and Caltrain. MuniMobile is a prepay system so it allows you to buy single tickets, Muni passports, and one day tickets in advance of your ride.
Powell/Hyde Line: Union Square, Lombard Street to Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell/Hyde line is one of two cable cars in San Francisco that run from Union Square to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf.
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.
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.
BART/Muni Adult A Fast Pass®The A Fast Pass is available on the Clipper card and is valid for a calendar month and lets you take unlimited rides on SFMTA/Muni vehicles and BART between the Embarcadero station to Balboa Park station in San Francisco.