Driving up South Hill

Though I agree with most of Jesse Tinsley’s reasoning (Jan. 6) why Grand Avenue should be less of an obstacle going uphill, I don’t quite buy front-wheel drive as a significant advantage.

Having most of the vehicle’s weight over the drive wheels is an advantage over rear-wheel drives if the vehicle is on level ground, but less so going uphill because the center of the vehicle’s gravity shifts more to the rear as the angle of attack, going uphill, increases.

I speak from experience, because I make deliveries for our florist shop and sometimes have trouble driving our front-wheel-drive van up the South Hill. I did take advantage of a trick I learned while driving transit buses, though. It’s possible to gain greater traction nearer the curb due to all the rip-rap other vehicles throw there from the center of the road.

What really makes the hill climb an obstacle, though, are the stuck vehicles blocking others.

Philip Mulligan

Spokane