How can i find out what percent grade a street/hill is in San Diego?

Question

I'm petitioning a parking citation that was given to me for not cramping (turning my tires inward toward the curb) my tires when I was in San Diego. It says streets above 3% grade need to be cramped, but it doesn't look very steep at all. Is there a way I can find out what percent grade a certain street is? How?

Answer 1

The grade of a roadway is a measure of its incline or slope. The amount of grade indicates how much the roadway is inclined from the horizontal.

For example, if a section of road is perfectly flat and level, then its grade along that section is zero. However, if the section is very steep, then the grade along that section will be expressed as a number, usually a percentage, such as 10 percent.

To calculate the grade of a section of roadway, divide the rise (height increase) by the run (horizontal distance).

Answer 2

Grab a protractor and a plumb bob and use your imagination

Answer 3

You may also measure by using a 100' tape extended towards the down hill. one end should be on the ground, while keeping the tape level, measure the distance to the ground at the other end. 3% will mean the tape will be 3' off the ground,,,,don't get run over...

Answer 4

Keep in mind that a 3% grade would look almost flat, I would imagine just about every hill around SD is at least 3%. For reference, the hill on the 15 freeway just south of the 76 is only about a 10-12% grade max at its steepest point.

Easiest would be to just take a good level, one that can be adjusted to angles, to the spot where you were parked and check.

Whereabouts in San Diego?