Driving in SF! and other San Francisco, CA Local Custom Tips

Standard vs. Automatic Transmission
In this town, hill-starts are more than just a challenge; they're downright dangerous, with stop signs at the tops of all the steepest hills. If you're renting a car and are unsure whether you can stop on a steep (as much as a 31.5% grade!) hill without rolling back down, you'll want to get an automatic. If you're stuck with a stick shift, try putting on the emergency brake and easing off it as you move forward. Practice makes perfect, but avoiding the steepest hills is probably safest.

The Steepest Streets in the City
1. Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde (31.5% grade)
2. 22nd between Church and Vicksburg (31.5% grade)
3. Jones between Union and Filbert (29% grade)
4. Duboce between Buena Vista and Alpine (27.9% grade)
5. Jones between Green and Union (26% grade)
6. Webster between Vallejo and Broadway 26% grade)
7. Duboce between Alpine and Divisadero (25% grade)
8. Jones between Pine and California (24.8 grade)
9. Fillmore between Vallejo and Broadway (24% grade)
(Source: "San Francisco Almanac")

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The oddball organization of S.F. streets takes some getting used to, and there is no substitute for a good map. However, there are some basic points to remember:

Streets vs. Avenues -- the numbered STREETS are South of Market, on the east side of the city, and the numbered AVENUES are in the Richmond and Sunset districts on the west side of the city, running north to south.

Market Street cuts a large diagonal swath through downtown, and once you get on it, you may find it hard to get off. It's also tough to cross if you don't know where to do it. From the south, 3rd, 6th, and 9th streets, Van Ness Avenue and Gough cross; and from the north, Hyde, Polk, Battery, Montgomery, Ellis, Van Ness Avenue and Laguna cross.

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All of the Bay Area bridges are toll bridges: $5 to go southbound on the Golden Gate Bridge (www.goldengate.org), and $4 to go westbound on the Bay Bridge (www.oaklandbridge.com), San Mateo, Dumbarton and San Rafael bridges. If you're a regular commuter, you can buy commuter books to get a volume discount. Ask at the toll plaza.

All Bay Area toll bridges also use FasTrak for electronic toll collection. To apply for an account (minimum $25) and a transponder, go to www.bayareafastrak.org.

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Website: www.bayareafastrak.org.

Driving in San Francisco may be challenging, but it's nothing compared to parking. Some neighborhoods are worse than others, but none are good. Carry plenty of quarters and good karma.

Public transit and parking garages can save you some grief. The S.F. Metropolitan Transit Authority maintains a list of public garages and lots in S.F., with rates for city-owned garages.

Prevent Runaways!
Always curb your wheels when parking on a hill -- or face an equally steep ticket. When facing downhill, turn your wheels to the right. When facing uphill on a street with a curb, turn your wheels to the left. When facing uphill on a street with no curb, turn your wheels to the right.

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Example:

UNION SQUARE GARAGE Rate Category Parking Rates Transient Parking 0 – 1 Hour $2.50 1 – 2 Hours $5.00 2 – 3 Hours $8.00 3 – 4 Hours $12.00 4 – 5 Hours $16.00 5 – 6 Hours $21.00 6 – 7 Hours $26.00 7 – 24 Hour Maximum $31.00 Lost Ticket $31.00 Motorcycle Flat Rate (24 hours) $4.00 High Volume (taxable) $15.00 High Volume (non-taxable) $12.00 Pre-Paid Bulk Rate (min. purchase $500) $20.00 Monthly Parking Regular $365.00 Carpool $180.00 Car Sharing $180.00 Assigned $500.00 Motorcycle $60.00 Miscellaneous Charges Late Monthly Payments $25.00 Lost Access Card $25.00 Damaged Access Card $25.00 Access Card Deposit $50.00 No Key Charge – at Valet Parking $25.00

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Website: www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/dp...geRates5-06.pdf

Tipping is an expression of satisfaction with the service rendered and is therefore a fairly personal decision. Naturally you will want to leave more than the standard amount when you receive extraordinarily good service and less when the service is below par. You should consider how often you will return to a particular place because a nice tip is likely to be remembered and therefore can also be an assurance of excellent service in the future.

All that being said, the following are standard amounts for tipping in San Francisco:

Restaurants:
Bartender - 10-15% of bar bill
Headwaiter/Maitre d' - nothing unless special services are provided; in that case, about $5 (more for exceptional services)
Waiter/Waitress - 15-20% of bill
Wine Steward - 15-20% of wine bill
Server at counter - 15-20% of bill; generally a minimum of $1
Coat Check attendant - $1-2 per coat
Restroom attendant - $1-$2
Valet park attendant - $1-$2

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Hotels:

Bellman - $1-$2 per bag; $5-10 for running errands
Concierge - $10 for a special effort such as handling airline tickets; offer the tip after each service or at the end of your stay
Chambermaid - generally no tip for one-night stays; $2-$5 per night for longer stays
Doorman - $1-$2 for hailing a cab; $2-$5 for unloading baggage
Room-service waiter - 15-20% of bill
Valet park attendant - $1-$2

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Taxis:
Driver - 15-20% of fare; generally a minimum of $1

Airport:
Skycap - $1-2 per bag

Personal Care:
Barber - 15% of the cost; generally a minimum of $1
Hairdresser - 15% of bill for one operator; if several operators, 10% of bill to haircutter/colorist/stylist, 10% divided among others
Manicurist - $3-$5 (more if manicure runs more than about $25)

Sports Arena:
Usher - $1-2 per party if shown to your seat

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When parking downtown, be sure to check metered limits. Metered parking spaces limit parking to 30 minutes or 1 hour. These regulations are designed to encourage "turnover" so that spaces are available to the greatest number of downtown visitors. Overstaying the limit by "feeding" the meter can result in a fine, regardless of whether there is time showing on the meter or if the meter is out of order.

Downtown parking meters are not in effect on the following holidays:

New Year's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

Fisherman's Wharf parking meters are not in effect on these holidays:

New Year's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

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The search for a parking place is made even more complicated by the presence of variously colored curbs. These indicate when and to whom parking is admissible, so don't automatically give up if you see a space in a painted zone. It goes without saying (but we'll still say it) that it's always a bad idea to park too close to a fire hydrant, a driveway or a wheelchair ramp (within three feet), whether painted or not.

GREEN: Limited time parking - 10 minutes from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

YELLOW: Commercial loading and unloading; vehicles with commercial plates may park up to 30 minutes from 9am-6pm Monday-Saturday. Some yellow zones are restricted to trucks with commercial plates only. Violators will be towed. Usually accompanied by a sign; check for hours of enforcement.

BLUE: Parking for vehicles with special disabled person plates or placards only. Always enforced; violators will be fined $275. (Shame on you for even contemplating it!)

RED: No parking at any time. Vehicles in bus stops will be towed and subject to additional fine.

WHITE: Passenger loading zone (usually in front of churches, restaurants, hotels, etc.). Vehicles may not be left unattended for any length of time during enforcement hours; attended vehicles may stand for up to 5 minutes. Hours of enforcement may be painted on the curb or posted on a sign. If not, check to see if the business in front of the white zone appears to be in operation.

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