The Great San Francisco Elevator Census: Are There More Elevators or Hills?
Ah, San Francisco. City of sourdough, cable cars, and...elevators? That's right, those vertical workhorses are the unsung heroes, quietly shuttling us up and down the city's many hills. But just how many elevators are there keeping San Franciscans from getting a killer calf workout?
The Official Count: A Number So Big It'll Make Your Ears Pop
According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, there are approximately 10,800 elevators gracing the skyline of San Francisco. That's a lot of cables (not the cable car kind)! That's enough elevators to take you from the tippy-top of the Transamerica Pyramid all the way down to...well, another floor in the Transamerica Pyramid.
QuickTip: Focus on what feels most relevant.
But Wait, There's More (Expired Permits, That Is)
Now, here's the fun part: a whopping 83% (that's over 9,000 elevators) have expired permits. Let's just say some of those elevators might be more suited for a game of elevator limbo than an actual ride. Maybe that's why those San Francisco hills seem extra steep lately...or maybe it's just the sourdough.
Tip: Read mindfully — avoid distractions.
So, Do Elevators Outnumber Hills? The Great Elevator vs. Hill Debate
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This is a question that philosophers have pondered for ages (well, maybe not ages, but at least over a particularly strong cup of coffee). San Francisco has a whopping 43 hills. That's a lot of dirt piles, but definitely fewer than 10,800. So, by sheer number, elevators win this round. But let's be honest, hills are more iconic. They're the Lombard Street curves, the breathtaking Golden Gate Park vistas, the "I think I left my phone at the top" moments. Elevators, well, they just go up and down.
QuickTip: Skim slowly, read deeply.
The Future of San Francisco's Elevators: Up, Up, and Away (Hopefully with Valid Permits!)
San Francisco is tackling the expired permit issue, but it's an uphill climb (pun intended). In the meantime, here's to the elevators that keep us moving, even if their permits are a little dusty.
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
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| How Many Elevators Are In San Francisco |
How To FAQs:
- How to avoid an elevator with an expired permit? This one's tricky. There's no real-time database, but you can always ask your building manager or look for inspection tags.
- How to survive a San Francisco elevator breakdown? Embrace the stairs, channel your inner mountain goat. Bonus points for offering to carry groceries for fellow sufferers.
- How to convince your friend that elevators outnumber hills? Show them this very article!
- How to give your elevator a pep talk? "You got this, champ! Just a few more floors and then freedom (or at least another floor)."
- How to appreciate San Francisco's elevators? Take a moment to be grateful for the lack of killer leg cramps you'd have without them.
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