Cable car riding in San Francisco made easy

Two of the three cable car lines begin and end their runs at Powell and Market streets, a couple of blocks south of Union Square. These two lines are the most scenic, and both pass near Fisherman's Wharf, so they're usually clogged with first-time sightseers. The wait to board a cable car at this intersection is longer than at any other stop in the system. If you'd rather avoid the mob, board the less-touristy California line at the bottom of Market Street, at Drumm Street.

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yk on Nov 1, 09 at 04:36 PM

Another "trick" is to board the Powell line cable cars on the next stop after the Powell/Market terminus. If you have a small party (2 people or less), there are usually a few "hang on to the pole" spots empty for you to grab. We did that a few times and saved waiting for an hour or more at the terminus.