Market Street in San Francisco 1906

[JCitron]

Here's a video of Market Street in San Francisco taken in 1906 just a few days before the devastating earthquake. The caption says filmed from a streetcar, but I think it was filmed from a cable car.

There are trolley cars crossing in front of the cable car as well as early automobiles, horse carriages, and people. They cut in front the cable car without warning and almost get clipped a few times. There doesn't seem to be any kind of hand signals, turn-signals, or traffic lights. Its everyone for himself!

http://www.flixxy.com/san-francisco-1905-historical-footage.htm

John

 

[tardis626]

Wow, thanks for the share, great footage
________
PerfectSexToy live

 

[NormP]

No rules for trafic or pedestrians in those days.

NormP.

 

[jeffmorris]

While the vehicles almost get into accidents, nobody get hurt or killed! Amazing!

 

[tdstead]

All I can say is you would have need nerves of steel and a strong heart to be that gripman.

Tom

 

[JCitron]

All I can say is you would have need nerves of steel and a strong heart to be that gripman.

Tom

LOL! Every time I watch this video, I feel my stomach lurch when the cars dart in front of the cable car!

John

 

[teddytoot]

The long focus lens used makes it look far more frightening than it actually is. One only has to watch the reactions of the pedestrians to realise that the cable car is in fact a long way back from where it appears to be. Nevertheless a fascinating piece of archive film.

 

[airtime]

Wow that was superb, imagine if we had the same road rules today as they did, imagine the carnage and the blocked up roads, however, I have seen on the telly places in India, and they seem to not have any rules what so ever, similar to what you see on you video.

Here is the link to what I'm talking about, and if you think this is bad, it's worse on round-a-bouts...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM

Thank you for that piece of nostalgia, it was brilliant

Joe Airtime

 

[seeseeme]

Even the cop did not slow down and think about stopping. Hardly anyone looked at all at who was coming or how close, and some cars were very close. The horses did not care either, they just went where they had to go without any problems.

Great video, many thanks.

Craig

 

[SuperFudd]

I first saw this on a slow PC so it was in slow motion. No more than 1/4 normal speed. It gives you much more time to study the situation. Even more facinating that way.

 

[bl4882]

Great video. Thanks.

BTW, the pedestrians and drivers behave exactly the same today. Those near misses are for real. There is something in the San Francisco water that makes them nuts, I'm told.

Bernie,
Recovering San Francisco driver.