Who drives a stick shift in san francisco? (cost of, bus)

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I would use my emergency brake when I'd go to SF in my VW bug a million years ago, but it wasn't fun. I can remember being stuck at a light as it turned green, then red, then green, with me killing the car and people honking. I thought it would be so fun to take my sister to SF after I got my license (I was 16, she was 14) and we took my little bug to the city (grew up in the East Bay). Talk about a crazy thing to do LOL.

[rca215]

I drive a manual in the city. Not really much of an issue. Sometimes I'll go a block or so out of the way to avoid the steepest of hills, but I might do than in an automatic too. Probably less likely to have my car stolen!

[Matadora]

Bottom line is if you are comfortable and skilled at driving a stick shift you will have no problems driving one in SF.

I moved here from the flattest state in the US (where I lived most of my life) and had no problems at all driving the steepest streets in SF.

[blackgem]

Thanks everyone. Just getting an idea of your struggles and solutions. I very well could end up taking a job in Marin County. I really didn't expect anyone to have been involved in an auto accident unless you were a teeny bopper. Oh yeah, I always roll back so folks stay back. I only fear people who are starting to drive have no idea what it means when a car rolls back. I first learned on a manual in 1999 at 15 years old.

[rca215]

Most people are considerate of the rolling back issue on hills and leave space since many of the hills are steep enough to impact automatics too.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

I drove a Golf with a stickshift the entire time I lived in The City.

[Sierrajeff]

Have always driven with a stick in the City, and love it. It's more fun, there's a better feeling of control, and let's be frank it's kind of neat to impress tourist friends when you can set off from even steep hills (think: cresting Pac Heights on Divisidero) without having to use the emergency brake.

The biggest problem, frankly, is that manual transmissions are so rare now that people in automatics will pull up right behind you at a stop sign or light on a hill - I'm good with the brake and clutch, but there's often at least a tiny bit of roll-back, and I've always wondered whether it'd be my fault or theirs (for pulling up too closely) if I bumped their front bumper.

[JasonTaverner]

I learned how to drive a stick in SF. Trial by fire, really.

However (true story) if you brakes go out, the hills and clutch can MacGuyver a solution....

[Mordin]

My father taught me how to operate a manual transmission in SF, and also taught me the trick of using the e-brake to hold me on steep hills. He told me that if I can drive a stick shift in that city, I could drive anything anywhere lol.

[legal_eagle]

I have driven a stick most of my 30 years in SF and have never needed a new clutch. You learn the quick jump from brake to clutch or use the hand brake if the hill is really steep.