The Vertical Metropolis: A History of Wheels in SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO is a city defined by its geometry. Built upon more than 40 hills, its grid-based layout often ignores the laws of gravity, creating a unique and sometimes harrowing relationship between the city and the automobile. From the “horseless carriages” of the early 1900s to the driverless taxis of 2025, SAN FRANCISCO has served as both a laboratory and a battlefield for automotive evolution.
The Hill-Climb Heritage
In the early 20th century, SAN FRANCISCO was the ultimate proving ground for the fledgling auto industry. If a car could survive the 31.5% grade of Filbert Street or the 17.5% incline of Nob Hill, it could survive anywhere. This “hill-climb” culture led to the creation of “Auto Row” on Van Ness Avenue, where grand, cathedral-like showrooms once displayed the latest Buick and Alfa Romeo models.
Today, those steep inclines remain a rite of passage. Driving in SAN FRANCISCO requires a specific set of skills: the “handbrake start” for manual drivers, the “curb-side wheel tuck” for parking, and the constant vigilance for “blind crests” where the road simply vanishes into the horizon.
Roads Built Against the Grain
The city’s road infrastructure is a mix of high-speed arteries and whimsical detours. Market Street, the city’s diagonal backbone, serves as the primary transit corridor, while Lombard Street (the “Crookedest Street in the World”) and Vermont Street (the actually more crooked street) showcase the city’s attempt to tame its verticality through switchbacks.
However, the most significant shift in SF road history was the “Freeway Revolts” of the 1950s and 60s. Residents successfully blocked the expansion of massive highways through the city’s heart, leading to the eventual demolition of the Embarcadero Freeway after the 1989 earthquake. This gave birth to the modern waterfront—a space where cars, trolleys, and pedestrians now coexist.
The Modern Frontier: Tech and Transit
As of 2025, SAN FRANCISCO has transitioned from a traditional car culture to a “mobility-as-a-service” hub. The roar of classic engines on 19th Avenue is now frequently replaced by the quiet hum of electric vehicles and the rhythmic spinning of LiDAR sensors.
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): Companies like Waymo have made driverless “Robotaxis” a daily reality. These vehicles navigate the city’s fog and narrow alleys, though not without controversy regarding safety and traffic flow.
The Transit-First Policy: The city officially prioritizes public transit (Muni and BART) over private cars. This has led to more dedicated bus lanes on Geary Boulevard and car-free zones like the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park.
| Street Type | Example | Key Feature |
| Scenic/Winding | Lombard St | 8 hairpin turns in one block. |
| Transit-Heavy | Market St | Restricted to buses, taxis, and bikes. |
| Steepest1 | Bradford St2 | A grueling 41% grade.3 |
| High-Speed | US-101 / I-280 | The main veins connecting to Silicon Valley. |
Driving in SAN FRANCISCO remains a “miserable experience” for some and a thrilling challenge for others. Whether it’s dodging a cable car on Hyde Street or waiting for a self-driving car to navigate a double-parked delivery truck, the city continues to reinvent what it means to be a “car town.”
Would you like me to create a detailed driving guide for the most famous scenic routes in SAN FRANCISCO?