Crowds of Pedestrians Prompt Lombard Street Study

In the residential Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, one block draws an estimated 2 million pedestrians a year—the famously steep, winding stretch of Lombard Street.

In response to complaints from residents about traffic, noise, litter, and petty crime, the County Transportation Authority is studying ways to manage the crowds, SF Gate reports. After a year researching how other tourist destinations handle similar problems, the study is now exploring solutions—including barring cars and turning the area into a pedestrian-only plaza.

Other proposals include hiring a mass of parking and safety officers, requiring reservations, and charging a toll. Some tourists told the paper they would be willing to pay an admission fee, while at least one said pedestrians should visit for free and separately from cars.