HUMANITY: A Moment in San Francisco

By: MJ + PJ

We caught the trolly from North Beach to Union Square area on our first day in San Fran. The ride itself was a joy but we got a bonus at the end. We waited one departure to get front corner seats rather than sit internally on the leaving trolley. On the next trolley we had first sat on the right side front but swapped to the left side front corner. This turned out to be a bit more exciting.

Our kid chose to stand and hang onto the front pole as we sat. It’s a different experience as the sounds and speed and exposure all make for a very raw way to travel. Our driver had called out “Keep close in – trolley passing!” when other trolleys came past going the opposite direction as there is only about a three foot gap. The trolley moves within the usual traffic with stops and starts, but on a downhill has no reverse. Which leads to the main event of this story.

We roll towards the last intersection prior to our stop – a downhill where a SFFD fire engine with ladder appear on our right, wanting to turn left in front of us to go up the hill. Our driver sees this and pulls up early to give a bit more space on what is already a very busy intersection. But has he gone too far forward? The adults on the trolley are all thinking “Is this too close? Is that long engine going to fit? This is going to be tight”. The kids are thinking “Fire engine! With a LADDER!” (Because in most jurisdictions these don’t roll around the streets like they seem to in San Fran.)

So we all watch. The trolley driver can’t reverse and can’t hop off the cable or rails. The engine driver pulls forward to turn but pauses the engine cabin window right next to our kid who is standing and clinging to the front corner pole. Not a pause to check his mirrors or to see if he has space for the turn – only a few seconds to turn his head with a big grin and give us a thumbs up. He knew he nailed it. Then the engine powered up the hill.

That brief moment was perfect public relations. It gave us such a fun moment. It reminded the adults that these firefighters know their equipment and how to handle it. It gave our kid a sense of awe of the truck and trust in and the approachability of firefighters. That’s what they need, that’s what we need, and they delivered.