San Francisco is known, amongst other more respectable things, for its steep streets. This photo is of Filbert street, the steepest street in San Francisco; and at 31.5% grade, it’s the 4th steepest street in the world (tied at 4th with another San Francisco street, 22nd street). I was in the neighborhood picking up something from craigslist and stumbled upon this famously steep street (well, okay…full disclosure here: I kind of have an obsession with steep streets and ventured slightly out of my way, camera in hand, to find it).

Streets that are steeper:
Eldred Street in LA at 32%
Baldwin Street in New Zealand at 35% (they think they are the steepest, but were measured incorrectly).
Canton Ave in Pennsylvania at 37%

There is actually a section of a street here in San Francisco that has a 38% grade, but to qualify according to the Guinness Book, it has to maintain the grade for a whole block.

Baldwin Street has all sorts of yearly competitions and events on its street to showcase its famous steepness. I think Jay Leno once rolled watermelons down this one, but I think we can come up with something better. Any ideas? Rolls of ribbon?

Caroline reminded me of this commercial. It’s so beautiful! Also check out the behind the scenes about the making of the video here