San Francisco is famously known for its steep hills, but did you know it is home to one of the crookedest streets in the world? Lombard Street is a one-block section that has eight sharp hairpin turns, which were designed in the 1920s to make it safer for vehicles to descend the steep hill. The slope of the hill is about 27 degrees, and the switchbacks reduce the hill’s natural 27% grade to about 16%, making it safer for pedestrians and drivers alike.
