Lombard Street is best known for the one-way section on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, in which the roadway has eight short turns that have earned the street the distinction of being the crookedest (most winding) street in the world.  The design was born out of necessity in order to reduce the hill’s natural 27% grade, which was too steep for most vehicles. The crooked part of the street, which is about ¼ of a mile long is reserved for one-way traffic traveling downhill and is paved with red bricks.

While driving down Lombard street, the speed limit is 5 mph. Also, the Powell-Hyde cable car line stops at the top of this block, which can be very pleasant to walk down on a sunny day.