Touring * Street * Scene *

Entering San Francisco from the east on Interstate 80 over the Bay Bridge, prepare to take Harrison Street, the first exit when you reach solid ground. The off-ramp makes a hard counterclockwise loop to cross back under Interstate 80; stay to the right. Turn right at Harrison Street, the first intersection, which leads directly to the Embarcadero. Park in the public lot between Justin Herman Plaza and the Ferry Building clock tower. (Note: The parking here has been eliminated, but there are lots nearby.)

Entering the city from the Golden Gate Bridge on U.S. 101, take the Lombard Street/Downtown exit. After a few blocks, veer to the left onto Lombard, following it for 12 blocks. At Van Ness Avenue, turn left (north) and drive two blocks; then turn right onto Bay Street. Follow Bay another dozen or so blocks until you reach the Embarcadero, where you should turn right and continue to the public parking lot.

Finally, entering the city from the south, follow U.S. 101 to the 101/Interstate 80 interchange and stay right, following the signs for the Bay Bridge. Exit at Third Street, turn left to go under the freeway, and then turn right onto Harrison Street, which takes you to the Embarcadero and the public parking lot.

To avoid the task of driving and parking in this city altogether, take advantage of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from an outlying community, where parking at the BART stations is free and, on weekends, easy to find. Get off BART at the Embarcadero station, put on your skates, and head toward the bay on Market Street. You'll enter the Embarcadero at Justin Herman Plaza, a fun place to warm up. Ferries and numerous city buses also serve this area, and the CalTrans train station is only a few blocks from the south end of the trip.

Guided by members of the California Outdoor Rollerskating Association (C.O.R.A.), the Midnight Rollers meet in the parking lot across from the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero at 8 p.m. on Friday nights, departing at 9 p.m. This skate has taken on a life of its own, according to organizer and local skating events promoter, David Miles. Many regulars see it as a way to forget the stress of the workweek. At times, the number of participants has reached more than 400. For a preview of part of the route, see The Embarcadero/South Beach on page 123 and The Embarcadero/Fisherman's Wharf on page 124.

Choose a clear, dry night for your first skate with the Midnight Rollers. Make sure you have the skills to climb the two steep hills (one on very rough pavement) and are able to ride your heel brake through a long downhill tunnel on a pedestrian path only three feet wide and paved with textured iron. You should be in good enough physical condition to skate the full 12-mile loop without dropping back. If that happens, you may lose the route and won't have the group to protect you from traffic. If you do find yourself in over your head, simply skate back the way you came rather than trying to keep up.

In spite of the numbers, the group skate is surprisingly orderly. Starting with the first checkpoint at the end of Pier 39, where an organizer checks the night's head count, short breaks are taken every two or three miles so stragglers can catch up. Later, when the skating is actually on city streets with traffic, it becomes important to stay with a large group for more protection from cars. Cab drivers are notoriously intolerant of the weekly traffic disruption, but most other drivers are pretty patient.

When group skating, keep in mind that ultimately, only you are responsible for your own safety. Don't depend on somebody in charge to be watching out for skaters at the back of the pack. Bring your I.D. and money for a taxi just to be safe.

• CORA Firday Night Skate Page - Check here for the latest updates.

• The Embarcadero/ Fisherman's Wharf
• The Embarcadero/ South Beach