Tips for San Francisco and driving tips
A city of one way streets, the hills close to the vertical and bike messengers bomber San Francisco is visiting drivers to the test. For the most part, public transport is your best bet. But if you intend to discover the suburbs – or to stay out until the wee hours – here's the skinny on the conquest of San Francisco by car.
Hire Car in San Francisco
Driving Tips
Busin this city, the hill-starts are just a challenge, they are downright dangerous, stop signs at the top of all the steepest hills. If you rent a car and do not know if you can stop on a steep slope (Note that as 31.5%!) Without rolling hill down, you want an automatic transmission. If you're stuck with a stick shift, try to on the emergency brakes and releasing as you move forward. Practice makes perfect, but avoiding the steepest hills is probably safer.
The largest streets in the city
1. Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde (grade 31.5%)
2. 22nd between Church and Vicksburg (grade 31.5%)
3. Jones between Union and Filbert (note 29%)
4. Duboc between Buena Vista and Alpine (27.9% grade)
5. Jones between Green and Union European (Note 26%)
6. Webster between Vallejo and Broadway 26% grade)
7. Duboc between Alpine and Divisadero (Note 25%)
8. Jones between Pine and California (24.8 degree)
9. Fillmore between Vallejo and Broadway (Note 24%)
(Source: "San Francisco Almanac")
Getting city
Organization oddball streets of San Francisco has a certain habit, and there is no substitute for a good map. However, there are some basic points to remember:
Streets vs. Avenues – The numbered streets are South of Market, on the east side of town, and the numbered avenues in the Richmond and Sunset districts the west side of the city from north to south.
Market Street cuts a wide diagonal band downtown, and once you above, you may find it difficult down. It is also difficult to take if you do not know where to do it. South, 3rd, 6th and 9th Street, Van Ness Avenue and Gough cross, and the north, Hyde, Polk, battery, Montgomery, Ellis, Van Ness Avenue and through Laguna.
Rush Hour
As in most crowded cities during peak hours in the Bay Area is a pain. The best advice: Avoid the highway and bridge driving at peak times unless you absolutely have to. If unavoidable, you can gather friends or neighbors and carpool. Also, check our real-time traffic reports.
Road Closures
An additional concern for lead in the city is the occasional street closures for special events, parades, festivals and street parties. Visit Web SFMTA information updated.
Carpool
buses during peak hours, HOV lanes (marked with diamonds) are groups carpooling and buses. Motorcycles and two seats with two people are equally qualified. A carpool is defined as two people in some areas, and 3 people others. Read posted signs for hours and occupancy requirements. On bridges, carpooling valid pay no tolls. Some bridge carpool lanes are for buses only during the hours of non-carpooling, so be careful and read the signs – the fine for violation is a carpool Stiff $ 341.
Casual carpooling is another way to beat the traffic. There are nonprofit organizations that exist solely to help commuters in the establishment of car pooling or van, and in some cases offer incentives in the form of cash or coupons for gas. Such organization is the 511 Regional Rideshare Program. You can contact them by dialing 511 or visit 511.org. The SFMTA also contains useful information carpooling.
Car Sharing
Because the bus sharing allows long-term visitors and residents car without the use of occasional vehicles without the hassle gas, insurance and CARE. Not one but three car-sharing companies operating in San Francisco and the East Bay: the nonprofit CarShare City and profit Zipcar FlexCare. monthly dues and hourly rates vary from company to company, but all three offer the opportunity to save money – And the environment. (Chronicle Article)
Bridges
bus all Bay Area bridges are toll bridges: $ 5 to go southbound on the Golden Gate Bridge (www.goldengate.org), and $ 4 to go westbound on the Bay Bridge (www.oaklandbridge.com), San Mateo, Dumbarton and San Rafael bridges. If you are a regular commuter, buy books for a commuter volume discount. Ask the toll station.
All bridges in the Bay Area Toll also use FasTrak toll for. To request an account (minimum $ 25) and a transponder, go to www.bayareafastrak.org.
Parking Tips
busDriving in San Francisco can be difficult, but it's nothing compared to parking. Some neighborhoods are worse than others, but none good. Bring lots of quarters and good karma.
Transit and garages can save you some grief. The San Francisco Metropolitan Transit Authority maintains a list of public garages and lots in San Francisco, with rates for city-owned garages.
Preventing Runaways
Always brake wheels when parking on a hill – or face a ticket just as stiff. Facing downhill, turn your wheels to the right. When mounted on a street with a curb sidewalk, turn your wheels left. When mounted on a street without a curb, turn your wheels to the right.
The color-coded border
The bus looking for a parking space is further complicated by the presence of borders of different colors. They indicate when and to whom parking is admissible, so do not automatically give up if you see a space in a painted area. It goes without saying (but we still say) that it is always a bad idea to park too close to a fire hydrant, driveway or wheelchair ramp (within three feet), both painted or not.
GREEN: Parking Limited time – 10 minutes from 9:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
YELLOW: loading and unloading commercial vehicles with commercial plates may park a maximum of 30 minutes 9:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Some yellow areas are reserved for trucks with commercial plates. Violators will be towed. Usually accompanied by a sign and verify the hours of enforcement.
BLUE: parking for vehicles with disability plates or placards. Always applied; Violators will be fined $ 275. (Shame on you, even to contemplate!)
RED: No parking at any time. Vehicles at bus stops will be removed and subjected to surcharge.
WHITE: passenger loading area (usually in front of churches, restaurants, hotels, etc..) Vehicles can not be left unattended for any length of time during the hours of enforcement; assisted vehicles may stand for 5 minutes. Time of execution can be painted on the curb or posted on a sign. Otherwise, check to see if the company in front of the white area appears be running.
Meters & Meter Holidays
bus
When downtown parking, be sure to check the limits measured. Metered parking limit parking to 30 minutes or one hour. These regulations are designed to encourage "turnover" so that spaces are accessible to the greatest number of visitors to downtown. Stay too long at the limit of "feed" the meter can result in a fine, regardless that there is time showing on the meter or if the meter is inoperable.
downtown parking meters are not in force on holidays following:
New Year's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Fisherman's Wharf parking meters are not in force on public holidays:
New Year's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Bills
If you are a bus ticket, you have a number of options:
(1) Rip the ticket and escape countries.
(2) to pay by mail, phone or online. Pour quickly (within 21 days) to avoid penalties.
(3) Protest against the quote (must be made within 21 days of receipt of the initial quote).
(4) The work of a portion of the fine by through a program called Project 20 (unfortunately, this option is not available for costs of impoundment). For more information, call (415) 626-4995 or visit San Francisco before the trial Diversion Project.
Towed Vehicles & Missing
bus If you believe that your vehicle has been towed, it is best to check with AutoReturn, which is the city contracted towing services.
If your car is not in possession AutoReturn, it may have been stolen. Call the police in San Francisco at (415) 553-0123.
Access disabled
Access Northern California (ANC) offers a free publication for anyone planning a trip to San Francisco available.
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