How to drive up steep hills in SF? (Sutter: earthquakes, live in)

[mrzod]

Silly question, but I moved to the Bay Area 1/2 a year ago and today I spent a good chunk of my time just driving aimlessly in SF. Up hills, down hills; so much fun!! It was like a roller coaster

Question, how do people in cars keep their cars from falling backwards when going up hill? My (automatic) glides back a little when I let go of the brakes and then I firmly step on the gas pedal which resulted in my front tires squealing... am I newbie or what?

Tips on how to cope with driving much appreciated!

[gizmo980]

I drive a stick, so my situation is even trickier! But as a semi-native Bay Area person, I can give you some tips. If you're really STOPPED on a hill, use the parking brake - then give it a little gas, while gently releasing to go forward. When you're on a hill that doesn't require a full stop, don't make any. Even if somebody really slow is in front or you hit a curve, just ease off and use little pumps of the gas. Brakes are to be avoided when possible, at least from what I know.

Personally I think it's easier and more fun to drive a stick, since you have more control... all I have to do is downshift on the steep hills, and "rock" my car at the stop signs. Only REALLY tricky part is when somebody rides my butt at a stop sign, and I can't get any roll-back. Usually I just start rolling and hope they get the clue. Final tip I can give you is about parking on a hill - just remember "Up up and away!" That means to turn your wheels away from the curb when you're parked uphill, and hence turn them towards the curb on a downhill. Good luck!

P.S. I actually got a ticket recently for not curbing my wheels, which is embarrassing as a local... it was at Sutter and Polk, which I don't even consider a real hill (and forgot since I was in a rush). Lame.

[mrzod]

haha, thanks. I never realized the parking brakes were effective on the hills -- I hardly ever use it. Might try it sometime this weekend.

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Final tip I can give you is about parking on a hill - just remember "Up up and away!" That means to turn your wheels away from the curb when you're parked uphill, and hence turn them towards the curb on a downhill. Good luck!

P.S. I actually got a ticket recently for not curbing my wheels, which is embarrassing as a local... it was at Sutter and Polk, which I don't even consider a real hill (and forgot since I was in a rush). Lame.

That's really interesting. I live in a completely flat area, so I don't anything about laws set for hills, so that's good to know! What's the point though?

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

That's really interesting. I live in a completely flat area, so I don't anything about laws set for hills, so that's good to know! What's the point though?

Curbing your tires keeps the car from rolling out of the parking spot. Either on a hill or even flatter areas of SF...I was told that since earthquakes can jolt cars without wheels curbed just enough to send it into traffic and whatnot that it was always a good idea to do so.
Oh yeah and they'll ticket you for not doing it if they're bored I guess!

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by bellalunatic

Curbing your tires keeps the car from rolling out of the parking spot. Either on a hill or even flatter areas of SF...I was told that since earthquakes can jolt cars without wheels curbed just enough to send it into traffic and whatnot that it was always a good idea to do so.
Oh yeah and they'll ticket you for not doing it if they're bored I guess!

Hmm. That's kinda cool. I don't know why I find this so fascinating. Here in VA, the only ticket you'll get is for parking too far away from the curb (or in a no parking zone, but that goes without saying).

[humboldtrat]

I have a stick shift also. It's quite a "tap dance" with the clutch, brake and gas when taking off from a stop sign. If there is someone ahead of me going up the hill, I stop a car length or more behind because I know he'll roll back a bit - especially if he's a "newbie".

[redwoodlvr]

I think it's much easier to navigate the streets of san francisco with a manual transmission actually. It's all about workin' the clutch properly. You have to hold back a little when you're just approaching the crest of the hill. And then give it the gas when it's time to move. If you're at a red light on super steep hills I sometimes employ the parking brake, although it's not recommended that you do this. It becomes somewhat of a fun, challenging game and after awhile you don't even think about it that much anymore. Hmmm....sounds like I just described the aftermath of a romantic interlude.

[redwoodlvr]

Originally Posted by bellalunatic

Curbing your tires keeps the car from rolling out of the parking spot. Either on a hill or even flatter areas of SF...I was told that since earthquakes can jolt cars without wheels curbed just enough to send it into traffic and whatnot that it was always a good idea to do so.
Oh yeah and they'll ticket you for not doing it if they're bored I guess!

I learned how to drive in SF and we were ingrained (in driver's education) with the concept of curbing wheels. So much so that no matter where I am in the world, the street could be as flat as a pancake... but I'm still curbing the wheels automatically. lol.

[sonarrat]

The most trouble I ever had in SF was driving an automatic SUV with front-wheel drive, behind five other people at a steep uphill stop sign. I actually spun my wheels trying to get off the line, because all the weight leaned back onto the rears..