San Francisco rent a car and San Francisco Cable Cars

No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a trip one on of the citys historic cable cars, so get ready to jump onboard during your upcoming car rental San Francisco Super Cheap vacation! Whether youre heading to Union Square for some shopping or up to the Fishermans Wharf for an evening stroll, the cable cars of San Francisco are ultra affordable and super efficient, providing travelers with a charming form of first-class transportation. Created back in the early 1870s by an English born engineer, the cable cars of San Francisco continue to dominate the citys transportation grid, enhancing inner-city travel for all types of car rental San Francisco customers as well as the areas longtime residents. A vital part of both the citys past, present and future, the cable cars of San Francisco currently function in a similar fashion to the citys public bus system, making several scheduled stops per route. Lovingly referred to as the citys only moving landmarks, the cable cars of San Francisco are a definite must-see for Bay Area travelers of all ages.

A Riders Guide to Cable Cars in San Francisco

Catching a cable car in San Francisco is as easy as catching the bus back home, provided you abide by the following rules and regulations. The first thing you will need to know before snagging a ride on a cable car is the fare. Ticket options include one-way rides for $3, Visitor Passports for $9 (one day), $15 (three days) and $20 (seven days), and FastPass monthly passes for $45 (adults). Car rental San Francisco customers should also note that there are three basic cable care routes within the city: the Powell-Hyde line, the Powell-Mason Line and the California Street Line. If youre looking to explore the Nob Hill neighborhood during your upcoming car rental San Francisco vacation, keep an eye out for the Powell-Mason Line cable car (it is denoted by a yellow sign). This route will take you all the way from the corner of Market and Powell streets to the Fishermans Wharf at Bay Street. The Powell-Hyde Line, on the other had, travels in a different direction from Powell and Market streets, climbing Nob and Russian hills before ending at the Aquatic Park near Ghirardelli Square. These cars are denoted by a red sign. Car rental San Francisco travelers can also hop on the California Street Line which runs east-west from the Financial District through Chinatown and over Nob Hill, commencing at Van Ness Avenue. San Francisco cable car routes are clearly marked with brown and white Cable Car Stop signs, all of which contain the name of the route, the routes direction, the routes final destination, hours of operation and a phone number for further information.

Boarding Etiquette

When boarding a San Francisco cable car it is important to follow a few key rules of etiquette. These include:

Waiting on the sidewalk and waving to alert the cable car conductor to stop. The conductor may drive by if he is unaware that you are waiting for the car.
Waiting to board the cable car until it has come to a complete stop. Some car rental San Francisco travelers choose to hop of the cable car before it comes to a complete stop but this can often result in injury. Riders can enter or exit from either side of the cable car but please remember to pay the conductor before taking a seat.
It is important to note that a cable car will only stop if it has sufficient room for more passengers. If a cable car is full to capacity, you will have to wait for the next scheduled car.

To learn more about the routes and schedule of San Franciscos historic cable car system please feel free to visit the official San Francisco Municipal Railway website at www.sfmuni.com. Fares are subject to change at anytime, as are routes, so please remember to visit this site before planning an important car rental San Francisco cable car adventure!