Published on : Tuesday, April 16, 2019
At summers, an estimated 6,000 people visit every day to see the 600-foot-long street.
At present, the city officials have declared a bill that would give San Francisco the authority to set up a toll and reservation system for the road, in an attempt to decrease the pressure of crowd and traffic congestion.
The toll, which could be up to $10 (£7.63), would be used in sustaining the reservations system, pay more to the traffic control officers, increase the number of police patrols in the area and tourism ambassadors.
To quote Assemblyman Phil Ting, who drafted the proposed legislation,”We must implement a system that enables both residents and visitors to enjoy the ‘Crookedest Street in the World’.”
The city requires the approval of the state to charge people to use a public road however it would be up to the officials of San Francisco to decide how and what to charge and how to use the funds.
The new toll system however is not anticipated to be in place before 2020.
The hairpin bends of the road were built in 1922 since the 27-degree gradient was too steep for the cars of the time to get up.
After the Second World War, locals initiated gardens with hydrangeas and roses, making it one of the top tourist attractions of the city.
Greg Brundage, president of the Lombard Hill Improvement Association, who has lived on the street for 22 years, greeted the proposed toll with open arms.
“The cars really impact the neighbourhood because they line up, they back up, they are sitting idling,” he said.
He further added: “This is a pilot program but we’re really excited this day has come.”