San Francisco Driving School

Driving in San Francisco: What New Drivers Should Know

Filbert Street on Russian Hill reaches a 31.5 percent grade on one half-block. City law requires drivers to curb their wheels when parking on a grade over 3 percent. Cable cars and Muni light rail run on city streets. Private cars may not drive along the downtown stretch of Market Street. South of Golden Gate Park, 19th Avenue is a six-lane arterial carrying State Route 1.

• Lombard and Filbert streets on Russian Hill

  Lombard between Hyde and Leavenworth is a one-way downhill brick block with eight sharp turns. On the half-block west of Leavenworth, Filbert reaches a 31.5 percent grade. Only downhill, eastbound traffic is allowed there.

• Powell and California streets

  The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable cars climb steeply north from Powell and Market. They cross the California Street line at the crest of the hill. Cable cars run in the street, with some reserved right-of-way.

• Market Street downtown

  Eastbound, private vehicles may not drive along Market between 10th Street and Main Street. Westbound, the limit applies between Steuart Street and Van Ness Avenue. Drivers can still cross Market, but cannot turn onto it in the car-free area.

• Central Freeway at Market Street and Octavia Boulevard

  The elevated Central Freeway links US 101 and Interstate 80 with Hayes Valley. It comes down to street level at Market and Octavia. Traffic on Market cannot turn onto the freeway there. A camera enforces the posted no right turn for eastbound Market drivers.

• 19th Avenue and the M Ocean View

  The M Ocean View light rail has its own right-of-way on 19th Avenue between Eucalyptus Drive and Junipero Serra Boulevard. At Rossmoor Drive, the Keep Clear track crossover has a signal and red dashed markings. Never turn in front of an approaching light rail vehicle.

The Russian Hill streets are good practice for slow downhill control and hill parking. Powell, California and 19th Avenue build skill at sharing the road with rail vehicles. The Central Freeway suits freeway merging and lane changes. Market Street is good practice for reading posted turn restrictions.