In San Francisco, a city known for its hilly terrain, the cable cars stand as a top tourist attraction. The cars also cause a large number of accidents, lawsuits and costs the city millions of dollars annually.
The cable cars average approximately one accident a month and 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, 126 accidents injuring 151 people have been reported by city officials.
The latest serious accident resulted in seven people being injured after a cable car came to a sudden unexpected stop after hitting a small bolt in the cable track. The city has paid nearly $8 million to settle almost 50 legal claims, according to a listing of cable car-related legal settlements obtained by the Associated Press through a public records request.
The city pays $12 million annually to settle claims connected to all forms of mass transportation, which includes electric streetcars and buses that travel more miles than cable cars and carry more passengers.
City officials acknowledge that the cable cars cause a disproportionately large number of accidents on their eight miles of tracks, but say they're a beloved and valuable part of the city's life and character.
The image of the cable car is inscribed on the San Francisco Giants World Series rings. The cars are sung about, used in television advertisements, and appeal to the many tourists that visit the city, waiting in all kinds of weather to ride the famous cable cars over Nob Hill and Russian Hill.
"The iconic cable cars of San Francisco are a National Historic Landmark and we work every day to make them safer," Ed Lee, the city's Mayor, told the Associated Press. "While accidents and injuries are down from just a few years ago, we are always working to improve the system as a whole."
A survey commissioned by the San Francisco Visitors and Conventions Bureau found that riding the cable cars were among the top four tourist activities. An estimated 7 million people ride the cable cars annually, the vast majority consisting of tourists.
"The 19th century technology of the cable cars does pose some challenges," said Paul Rose, a spokesman for the city agency that oversees mass transit for San Francisco. "While one accident is too many and we're always working to improve safety, these incidents are rare."
San Francisco is the only place in the world with a manually operated cable-car system available for public use. It was introduced in the late 1800s to save the strain on horses dragging carts up the city's steep hills. They have remained as a San Francisco icon that is vital to the tourism industry.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
