JessieMJ

Hi everyone, we are driving into SF from Lake Tahoe tomorrow.

We're staying just off Lombard St and googlemaps has us going along the Bayshore Highway and up Van Ness ave. I'm so scared of driving in the city for the first time and I'm especially worried about the big hills. Unfortunately for me, getting the car to Lombard St is compulsory.

So I was wondering if anyone out there has any advice for driving in the city, things to watch out for or laws I might not know about?

Also, does anyone out there know the city well and know if our route is pretty straight forward? Would another route be easier?

Thanks so much...

easytraveler

There are no hills on Van Ness, nor on Lombard.

Can you describe a bit more of what your googlemaps is directing you to do? Is the Bayshore Highway, the Interstate 80? If so, which exit are you directed to take. how are you getting off the freeway to Van Ness?

Can't comment on the first part of your route into San Francisco until we know what roads you have been directed to take.

SAB

Van Ness is fine, it is a six lane thoroughfare, which rises ascends slightly to Pacific St. and then descends slightly to Lombard. No big hills.

I drive in SF every day, but I don't really know what to tell you to watch out for that would be unique to the City. The same as in any city, idiots that don't use turn signals, bicyclists who ignore stop signs, double parked cars, buses that don't pull completely into bus stops and block traffic, jay walkers especially downtown. I would recommend that you do not drive on Market Street, too many buses and streetcars and that you stay away from downtown and the approaches to the Bay Bridge during evening rush hour.

janisj

the term "bayshore" is a bit confusing. Is that a word you are using just because the map shows the hwy running next to the Bay? Or is that something you got from Google. It really isn't applicable to the route into SF from the east.

Also, what block on Lombard? It is a fairly long street. If you are staying somewhere along/near the 'motel row' part of Lombard, it will be very straight forward and no hills to worry about.

DebitNM

OK,here is a VERY big driving tip. I don't know of any other state that allows it. It is called "lane splitting [or sharing]" and it allows motorcycles to ride between the car lanes! SO if there are 2 lanes of traffic going in one direction, the motorcycle can ride between the cars. That means - the can zip in and out of lanes and then ride between them. It means that when you are changing lanes, BE VERY sure to look out your side window to be sure there isn't a motorcycle coming up between you and the next lane.

sf7307

Bayshore/VanNess is how you would come into the city from the south not the east. You will be on Interstate 80. Once you cross the Bay Bridge, stay on the right - follow signs to "Golden Gate Bridge". Take the Mission Street exit. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right. The first light is Van Ness - you will be turning left, however, you should be in the second or third lane to turn left onto Van Ness, NOT the far left lane as that forces you to make a "U" onto a different street. go about 2 miles on Van Ness, past Market, past Geary (you'll be passing the opera house and city hall), past Broadway. . Turn left on Lombard.

JessieMJ

Googlemaps is telling me to take the I-80w and then to go on the 101 - sorry not the Bayshore, i got a little confused. We get off at Van Ness and our motel is the Cow Hollow, on Lombard and Steiner St...

I've driven in Manhattan before SAB so I know about those things you listed haha. But driving in cities I'm not used to can stress me out! Plus I wish I'd known just how crazy NYcabs are in advance

Thank you all so much... I feel so relieved!

easytraveler

it's really not that difficult. sf7307 is correct.

From the Bay Bridge, stay in the right hand lane and follow the signs that say, "North 101, golden Gate Bridge".

Keep on this highway until the Mission Street exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Mission Street.

Then get in either the leftmost lane or the next to the leftmost lane and follow that (from Mission Sreet to Van Ness, it'll curve left at the stoplight).

Stay in the leftmost or middle lane all the way up Van Ness (there will be a stoplight at almost every 4-way cross).

The road will again naturally curve to the left onto Lombard Street.

All the way, it'll say "101 North" and there will be no hills.

Have a safe trip and enjoy San Francisco!

happytrailstoyou

If you you need to start or restart you car while stopped on a steep incline, put your car in low gear and step on the gas gently to avoid spinning of your wheels.

HTTY

sf7307

Only one correction to what easy traveler wrote -- when turning onto VanNess, again,,do not be in the far left lane because that will force you into almost a "U" onto another stret (Otis?)

easytraveler

Thanks sf7307!

At the turn point, it becomes five lanes instead of four. the leftmost is a "U-turn" onto Otis.

http://tinyurl.com/4xtf5z8

I always have to be very careful when giving directions in SF and even then the memory interferes. After the Loma Prieta earthquake, so many of those on-ramps, off-ramps, access lanes, exit lanes changed. I still can't get used to ending up on the south side of Market with the Embarcadero Freeway gone!

StuDudley

SAB
We take Franklin when heading north. Hate Van Ness. Which road do you use??

Stu Dudley

sf7307

Franklin north, Gough south, for the most part. But I didn't want to confuse the OP any more than she already is!

tomfuller

To add to HTTY's driving tip; When parking on a hill, turn the front wheels toward the curb if the car is pointed downhill. Turn the wheels toward the street if you are pointed uphill.
Too many cars have rolled away after being parked by flatlanders. This rule applies to cars with automatic transmissions as well as manual transmission. If you are not sure set the emergency brake before getting out of the car.

SAB

Stu: Mostly same as sf if I'm downtown. But Franklin is more of a hill for OP. Usually going to and from SF Superior Court from my office I'm on Van Ness, and I just try to practice patience.

charnees

tom fuller's advice is useful. And I would say always use your emergency brake as well. Just to be sure.

SAB

I think most of us who live in the Bay Area (if not Northern California) automatically use the e-brake--hill or no hill. I certainly do.
I automatically pulled the e -brake on my sister's car when parking her car in the garage in NJ and when she next went to use the car she couldn't get it to move--couldn't imagine someone using the e-brake.

So there's a difference for you Jessie.

sf7307

>>

Nah. I live on totally flat ground. I only use the e-brake on hills.

StuDudley

I've never used the e-break. We go through breaks on our car faster than anyone else we know.

Remember the old Bill Cosby routine??? He was driving up a hill in SF. He stopped & put on the breaks to keep from rolling backwards. Everyone behind him did the same thing. Nobody wanted to release their foot from the break, so they put their cars in "park", got out of the car, & turned the area into a used car lot.

Stu Dudley

SAB

Well, maybe it's just those of us who live on hills for whom it is automatic no matter where we park.