how bad is driving around San Francisco?

[gmoney]

may be paying a visit to SF in September, and would like to be able to get around to some of the remote scenic spots, and I'm wondering if SF is a city that can be navigated with a GPS and dealt with by an average human. I did fairly well in NYC and fend for myself around Chicago, so I'm wondering if I can manage SF traffic realistically.

Any hints? Warnings?

[XemaSab]

1. It's survivable there

The only problems are that some of the streets are narrow and/or one way, parking can be terrible, and getting from one neighborhood to another can be odd or counterintuitive.

I would suggest that you look into public transportation for part of your trip. It's fairly easy, and makes the driving and parking thing a moot point for part of the trip. In a pinch, SF is small, so it's easy to walk from one 'hood to another, and there are a lot of cabs.

What were you hoping to see there? :shrug:

And on edit: were you just visiting the city, or the whole Bay Area? :shrug:

[MajorChode]

2. I was there just last month

I didn't have a problem with the traffic, although there's plenty of it. If you are staying inside SF proper, it's best NOT to have a car because the mass transit system is excellent. Just take a good map and get a pass. The problem is not so much with driving as it is with parking. Overnight parking will cost you a low of about $10 if you find a good rate at a parking garage, or a high of about $35 if you let the hotel valet park your car. Then when you get where you're going it takes forever to find a park and you wind up walking a few blocks anyway.

Sometimes the buildings block the GPS signal temporarily, so it's best to have a good idea of where you're going all the time, even with a GPS.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I do have some experienced suggestions.

1. double your time schedule for any trips in the city.
2. Rush hour starts at 3 OUT of the city and 6-9 am INTO the city, do not be on a bridge then.

3. Make sure your brakes are in tip top condition. Seriously.
And it is required that if you park on a hill, you have to turn your front wheels into the curb.
There are signs..." Curb your wheels". So that if the car rolls, the front tire will go into the curb.
You may get a ticket if you do not curb your wheels.

4. When a light turns green, look both ways and wait 4 seconds, red light runners are notorious and
common.
5. If you see a Muni bus or a electric trolley near you, your chances of being hit by them are high, tho they tend to mow down pedestrians more than cars.

6. There are never any parking places on the street, and garage parking is expensive.
It would be cheaper to take BART into the city, take a cab to a bike rental place.
This is esp. true for North Beach and the waterfront.
This may not be true to day, because of economy.
Always carry a lot of quarters, meter feeding is an art, and there is a 95% chance you will be ticketed for an expired meter.
Also, bridge tolls are about 5.00 or more, only one way tolls.

7. San Francisco smells of urine in most areas. Seriously. Esp. downtown areas around the Mission, the Tenderloin, Haight Ashbury. But the odor permeates most other places.
I used vaporub in my nose to survive the trek to work. I am not kidding.

8. Gps and a good map and beforehand route planning will lead you to some side streets which make driving much easier. And, you rarely will be going over 30 mpg, usually much slower.

SF is 7 miles by 7 miles, and is a peninsula. So there is actually a lot stuffed into a small area.
Divide the city and plan on seeing sights per section.

Do not leave any valuables in your car, do not park next to vans with darkened windows in tourist areas.
I got my bags stolen in the parking lot of the Coit Tower. They smashed the side window and opened the car, popped the trunk, and took the bags. And I was in a car with SF plates. Out of state plates are a target.
I never carried a purse, kept all money inside a pocket.
The SW area corner of the city is not a place to be wandering around in.

There will be people sitting all over the sidewalks in the Haight. They are polite panhandlers.
The beggers downtown do not go into the streets, they stand on the medians.
There will be people lying all over sidewalks in some areas, passed out from drinking or drugs.
Aggressive panhandling was not allowed, just keep walking and keep windows up and doors locked when driving.
Best to be with a group at night.

Lastly, bring a sweater, a light jacket, be prepared for chilly days,even fog. Usually no rain until late Oct.
Sunglasses are good, as are good walking shoes. It can be windy and cold in one place, hot and calm just a few blocks away, over a hill.
I lived there 1999 till mid-2005.
It is NOT the SF of the 70's.
Prices are high for everything: gas, food, restaurants.
The Castro is very cool.

Try to get to Sausilito if you can. Fun place to wander around in.

Hope you have a good trip.

[gmoney]

4. Thanks folks...

May skip the rental car... may also cut the trip short. Is it that much of a hell hole?

[hunter]

5. It's much more drivable than it used to be.

San Francisco used to have these ancient traffic lights that were very, very small and easy to miss, but most of those have been replaced.

I've found Chicago more difficult.

[grace0418]

6. I'm from Chicago, so I found SF no problem except for getting used to stopping

at intersections at the top of steep hills. It's a bit disconcerting wondering if you're going to roll backwards down the hill when the light turns green.

[704wipes]

8. I was going to ask how it compares to Chicago

Thanks for putting it in that context... I do fine in Chicago except for the east side.

[REP]

7. With navigation, very doable. Without ... No - and I live 40 minutes from SF!!

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Take the BART and walk.

Best experience ever!

[sakabatou]

10. Well, if you want to walk in San Francisco

Try these walks (Stairway Walks in San Francisco).

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4793873/12796264
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5002144/13308477
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5243211/13838337
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5331192/14054727

[Cant trust em]

11. It's not that bad. It's a grid, so pretty easy.

I still think that a car is overrated. If you're going to stay within city limits, don't bother. Only get a car if you're planning on going to Marin. Even then, you might only want to do that for one day. If you were going to stay within the city, I'd stay stick to cabs and buses.