Cable Car Revenues Just A Bit Higher Than Payouts For Their Accidents
The SFMTA hopes to collect $5.5 million from cable car fares this year, but payouts to passengers injured in accidents on the vehicles could...
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Greg Dewar said:
December 29, 2010 12:23 PM
Reply
Fare revenue isn't the only source of income for the transit system, so this equation is a bit flawed. However, it's been well reported that the accident rate on the cable car system has been very high (Dan Noyes did a piece years ago).
No matter how carefully the operators run the cars, there are going to be accidents because of the antique nature of the cable system itself, and the fact that you have many passengers onboard who do not pay attention when de-boarding the cars, or who do not ride them properly. Add to that car traffic, sudden stops with a system that's made of wood and cable, and so on, and inevitably there are going to be accidents no matter what.
A more relevant question would be why it is Muni is the only transit system charged with maintaining a historical landmark out of its general fund. I mean, without cable cars, SF would lose a major tourist resource AND an icon of the city that's been around since pre-quake. Why can't we find outside money to help maintain the system and pay for the overhaul that the cable car system is going to need rather soon (like the one they did in the 80s)?