Day Around the Bay
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Yesterday morning, a new cable care for tourists was unleashed onto the streets of San Francisco. And yes, you will need sunglasses to enjoy these images of the shockingly colored car.
According to Whole Wheat Toast, who was live at the scene to capture some shots, "This cable car was built over a span of five years and relied on hundred-year old technology." Serving the Powell-Mason Line, the no. 15 car was built using original blueprints with help from the Woods Carpenter Shop, the Cable Machinery Support Shop, the Special Machine Shop and the Running Repair Shop. Whew. And it cost the city a whopping "$823,000 for materials and labor."
Newsom was there yesterday (surprise!) to cut the ribbon. Also, among the car's first passengers, we're told, were President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's children, Malia and Sasha.
For more scenes of yesterday's car release, check out Flickr phototog Jamison's choice set of images.
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Is Gavin actually in San Francisco???!!! Better frame that one, it's probably the last time you will see him here.
I think these pictures are fake, like all that moon landing stuff.
This is the cable car McDonalds is sure to buy the naming rights to.
Funny you should say that -- my first reaction was to say "Robble robble robble!" and then steal someone's french fries.
$823,000 is a bargain compared to the Breda trains. I think it's time to ditch the Muni Metro and switch back to cable cars.
It's nice that Gavin was there. Did he set foot on it at any point?
Heavens no. That would have been unseemly.
when my friends find out i live in sf, they often ask if i've ridden a cable car, to which i usually respond "fuck no, that shit is stupid". thank you sfist for providing me with visual proof:
FIVE DOLLARS
ONE WAY
NO TRANSFERS
= stupid.
yeah, it's stupid to pay $5 if you're not a tourist. but if you have a Muni FastPass it's great fun to ride the cable car, especially since you feel all native San Franciscan and superior to the tourists when you flash your card and step on like it's nothing to do this every day. I love it; taking the Powell line saves me from having to hike up Nob Hill from my office on Sutter Street or fight the slow-walking Union Square crowds to get down to Market.
I am reserving judgment on whether a new cable car is worth $823,000 though. Probably not. Depends on the source of the money. If it was General Fund, I'd say definitely NO but I somehow doubt that it was.
It's not so bad if you buy the $11 all-day pass. That's what I did yesterday to see the new car. Then you can hop off and on and take any other Muni bus or LRV until midnight.
If you live here, wouldn't you have a fastpass? If so, the cable car is free. And highly enjoyable.
Every once in a while it's nice to do a bit of touristy stuff to remember why so many people love to come visit this city.
the quickest and cheapest way to get to from the Mission to Bimbos involves a cable car and a fast pass.
And tourist gladly pay that money so cable cars pay for themselves relatively quickly i would imagine.
And its our history. there are plenty of things we should stop spending money on, but this is not one of them.
And it cost the city a whopping "$823,000 for materials and labor." WTF....
Another waste of taxpayers $$$ when will you learn San Francisco, thats a stupid question...
Have you ever seen the line for the cable cars at the Powell turnaround?
I doubt spysea even visits our fair City.
Me too.
Cry more, neocon.
"$823,000"
And worth.
Every.
Penny.
Strongly agree. its kind of a dog for commuting, but for if you've got a Fast Pass it can't be beat for getting up the Hill. I got a Translink card (no Cable Cars yet) and i'm starting to miss it!
And to the people who don't think its worth 800K, you do know tourism is our #1 industry, right?
Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. and Gavin Newsom... two people who have spent less time in San Francisco than pretty much anyone I know.
Weird.
I used to love taking the California from Van Ness to the end of the line at the foot of California each morning. The breeze as you crest the top of the hill and the view of the sunrise and Bay is pretty freaking awesome and wakes you up pretty good too.
The California line is the best, but unfortunately switching my fastpass to Translink means I can't ride it any more. :-(