Lombard Street is famous for its winding brick lane, but beyond that iconic block lies something unexpected: a stretch of old-school motels. Why so many in one place? This week on Bay Curious, we explore how the growing popularity of automobiles – and the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge – transformed Lombard Street into a bustling hub for motor lodges. Then, we’ll head south to the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge to unpack its history.

Additional Resources:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2025/10/09/why-are-there-so-many-motels-on-san-franciscos-lombard-street/">Why Are There So Many Motels on San Francisco’s Lombard Street?</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11958879/the-first-san-mateo-hayward-bridge-was-a-big-deal-in-1929">The First San Mateo-Hayward Bridge Was a Big Deal in 1929</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2025/10/09/why-are-there-so-many-motels-on-san-franciscos-lombard-street/#A">Read the transcript for this episode</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/bay-curious">Sign up for our newsletter</a></li>
 <li>Enter our <a href="https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/baycurious#hearken-10392">Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest</a>
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 <li>Got a question you want answered? <a href="https://modules.wearehearken.com/bay-curious/embed/656/share">Ask</a>!</li>
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These stories were reported by Christopher Beale and Rachael Myrow. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Gabriela Glueck and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Olivia Allen-Price, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED.

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