By Car in San Francisco

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By Car

Driving in San Francisco can be a challenge because of the hills, one-way streets, and traffic. Take it easy, and to avoid getting a ticket, remember to curb your wheels when parking on hills -- turn wheels away from the curb when facing uphill, toward the curb when facing downhill.

Parking

San Francisco is a great city for walking and a terrible city for parking. On certain streets, parking is forbidden during rush hours. Look for the warning signs; illegally parked cars are towed immediately. Downtown parking lots are often full, and most are expensive. The city-owned Sutter-Stockton, Ellis-O'Farrell, and 5th-and-Mission garages have the most reasonable rates in the downtown area. Finding a spot in North Beach at night can be exceedingly difficult; try the five-level 766 Vallejo Garage. Large hotels often have parking available, but it doesn't come cheap; many charge in excess of $40 a day for the privilege.

Garages

Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (123 O'Farrell St., at Stockton St., Downtown. 415/986-4800. www.eofgarage.com). Embarcadero Center Garage (1-4 Embarcadero Center, between Battery and Drumm Sts., Financial District. 800/733-6318. www.embarcaderocenter.com). 5th-and-Mission Garage (833 Mission St., at 5th St., SoMa. 415/982-8522. www.fifthandmission.com). Opera Plaza Garage (601 Van Ness Ave., at Turk St., Civic Center. 415/771-4776). Pier 39 Garage (Embarcadero at Beach St., Fisherman's Wharf. 415/705-5418. www.pier39.com). Portsmouth Square Garage (733 Kearny St., at Clay St., Chinatown. 415/982-6353. www.portsmouthsquaregarage.com). 766 Vallejo Garage (766 Vallejo St., at Powell St., North Beach. 415/989-4490). Sutter-Stockton Garage (444 Stockton St., at Sutter St., Downtown. 415/982-7275). Wharf Garage (350 Beach St., at Taylor St., Fisherman's Wharf).

Road Conditions

Although rush "hour" is 6-10 AM and 3-7 PM, you can hit gridlock on any day at any time, especially over the Bay Bridge and leaving and/or entering the city from the south. Sunday-afternoon traffic can be heavy as well, especially over the bridges.

Market Street runs southwest from the Ferry Building, then becomes Portola Drive as it nears Twin Peaks (which lie beneath the giant radio-antennae structure, Sutro Tower). The major east-west streets north of Market are Geary Boulevard (it's called Geary Street east of Van Ness Avenue), which runs to the Pacific Ocean; Fulton Street, which begins at the back of the Opera House and continues along the north side of Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach; Oak Street, which runs east from Golden Gate Park toward downtown, then flows into northbound Franklin Street; and Fell Street, the left two lanes of which cut through Golden Gate Park and empty into Lincoln Boulevard, which continues to the ocean.

Among the major north-south streets are Divisadero, which becomes Castro Street at Duboce Avenue and continues to just past Cesar Chavez Street; Van Ness Avenue, which becomes South Van Ness Avenue when it crosses Market Street; and Park Presidio Boulevard, which empties into 19th Avenue.

San Francisco is the only major American city uncut by freeways. To get from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge, you'll have to take surface streets, specifically Van Ness Avenue, which doubles as U.S. Hwy 101 through the city.

Rules of the Road

To encourage carpooling during heavy traffic times, some freeways have special lanes for so-called high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) -- cars carrying more than one or two passengers. Look for the white-painted diamond in the middle of the lane. Road signs next to or above the lane indicate the hours that carpooling is in effect. If you're stopped by the police because you don't meet the criteria for travel in these lanes, expect a fine of more than $200.

California allows drivers to use a handheld mobile telephone while operating a vehicle and also permits the use of radar detectors. The use of seat belts (in front and back seats) is required in California. The speed limit on city streets is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. A right turn on a red light after stopping is legal unless posted otherwise, as is a left on red at the intersection of two one-way streets. Always strap children under 60 pounds or age five into approved child-safety seats.