Exploring Lombard Street: The Curvy and Colorful Icon of San Francisco

2023-06-03 21:23:00

SAN FRANCISCO, California.- It may seem dangerous, but the curves of Lombard Street were built to increase the safety of the street.

The natural slope was considered too dangerous, so in the 1920s, a property owner suggested creating a series of switchbacks that would not only add scenic appeal to the street, but would make it safer for pedestrians.

Interesting facts about Lombard Street

Although it’s dubbed “the crookedest street in the world,” Lombard Street isn’t even the crookedest street in San Francisco. That title technically belongs to Vermont Street, between 20th and 22nd streets in Potrero Hill.

The “Bring Your Own Big Wheel” race, held every Easter Sunday and featuring people racing on plastic big-wheel bikes, began on Lombard Street before moving to Vermont Street.

Lombard Street did not become an icon overnight. It wasn’t until the 1960s, 30 years after the curves were added, that it began to appear on postcards, until they planted hydrangea bushes, which now bloom almost year-round.

The name Lombard actually has no relation to the history of San Francisco. It gets its name from a street in Philadelphia.

Tips when visiting Lombard Street

Because Lombard Street is lined with houses that San Franciscans live in and many of them drive to work every day, it is not recommended to visit the street at peak hours to avoid blockages at residence entrances at the beginning of the working day.

It is also advisable to avoid this block on holidays and weekend afternoons, as it can quickly fill up with many people.

Showing respect for neighbors is encouraged, which goes beyond allowing Lombard Street residents to go about their daily routines. Approaching their front doors or standing in their gardens to capture the perfect photo is considered inappropriate.

Similarly, making excessive noise, littering, or looking out of windows are discouraged behaviors out of respect for the residents.

After seeing Lombard Street, many visitors are eager to try and navigate its curves behind the wheel, but this is not recommended for novice drivers, so pedestrians are advised to be especially cautious, stay on the pavements, and be vigilant while driving. They enjoy the scenery.

Other Considerations for Visiting Lobard Street

Although going up Lombard Street is steep, it doesn’t take much time to visit. Once there, you’ll be close to many San Francisco attractions. North Beach, Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf are within walking distance.

Lombard Street is also just a few blocks from the San Francisco Art Institute, which sometimes hosts events, lectures, and art shows.

The famous winding section of Lombard Street is located between Leavenworth and Hyde streets. There are several ways to get there:

Bus: You can take several city buses that run through North Beach, the most popular being the 30, which leaves from Union Square. Get off at Columbus Ave., near Lombard St. From here, you’ll walk west (uphill) a few blocks to reach Jones St., the bottom of the hill where the winding part of Lombard St begins.

Cable car: The Hyde Street cable car will drop you off at the top of the winding street. Also, the Powell-Mason cable car stops at Lombard St. and Columbus Ave.

Car: Please note that the winding part of Lombard Street only goes in one direction, east. To drive, you must reach this street from Van Ness Ave., turning east on Lombard St.

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The famous Lombard Street in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco is not just any street. It’s just 600 feet (183 meters) long, but its flower-filled, cobbled surface is crossed by 6,000 people every day during the summer months. A year, between local residents and tourists, visitors exceed 2 million.

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Lombard Street is not only one of the most iconic in the city of San Francisco, but also one of the steepest and most curved in the United States. But for the few wealthy families who live along the zigzag stretch of the road, its popularity has also brought problems ranging from traffic chaos and litter to increased insecurity.

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With so many tourists in the area, the street becomes one of the main objectives for lovers of the foreign, but that could soon change. The California State Assembly passed a bill to allow San Francisco to charge a fee and implement a reservation program for driving on this iconic thoroughfare.

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“It has become very difficult to manage the crowds and traffic jams on ‘crooked street.’ Neither the presence of officers in charge of checking the parking meters nor the closure of a segment of the street have changed the current situation,” said Assemblyman Phil Ting, author of the proposal.

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Curiously, in San Francisco there are not too many streets with curves, so in 1922 it was decided to build the road in this way to save a bit of the enormous difference in level and thus allow cars to pass through. However, the cars of the time could not make it up its steep slope, so the residents decided to lay paving stones and fill it with flowers to improve the desolate landscape.

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For many tourists who travel by car, traveling through the famous street is like going down on a roller coaster, but to avoid scares, the speed limit is marked at 5 miles per hour.

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One of the existing proposals would require visitors to make a reservation online and pay $5 per vehicle Monday through Friday and up to $10 on weekends and holidays. The municipality would also have the power to decide how the funds raised through the toll would be invested.

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In a study carried out in 2017, they concluded that this strategy would help regulate demand and fluidity at the entrance to the road, which is one-way, but usually generates traffic jams that extend for several blocks.

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