Go slow. Seriously. That's the best way to get up and down safely.

Specifically, I suggest sixth or 21st avenues. Where do you have to go?

well the bus may be a good option... but depending on where you are...

Mesabi is generally pretty good, If you are in the Woodland-ish area I like 24th east down to Superior St. Could also take Woodland straight down to 4th St to 6th ave to 3rd st and park a few blocks up from DT proper.

Central entrance and Mesaba are your best bet. Remember that gravity is your enemy. DRIVE SLOW! The asshole behind you CAN PASS. Good tires are a must. When coming back up the hill, the only usable streets are 6th ave. e. and Mesaba. Third ave. e. is a very good option also.

any snow emergency route (hopefully clearly marked in your hood...) like 6th Ave E., 10th Ave E., 21st Ave E., Woodland, etc...

major streets like 1st 2nd, 3rd, 4th 9th...

Almost forgot. DO NOT be afraid to use you lower gears. They are extremely useful when going up and down the hill, and if you get stuck, try 1st. You'll be surprised.

Going down, use lower gears, but going up, you want to use a higher gear than expected. Too much "oomf" coming from a stop on a hill will only spin the wheels and polish the hill.

Also, seriously: stay back, stay alive. Let the plows and salt/sand trucks do their job.

(Do not take 26th East.)

I try to go up the plowed streets 1 block above my house. Then I go real slow down to my driveway.

in a cab.

Good tires are absolutely vital in a wintry Duluth. I highly recommenr Blizzacks.

If you own a front wheel drive vehicle, do NOT put snows on just the front. You WILL get a nasty surprise, guaranteed. FWD= snows on all four tires. I'd suggest a dedicated set of wheels with snows, and just switch them with the seasons.

Used wheels will work fine, and can be had from salvage yards or Craigslist. Blizzaks are very good tires.

If you own a rear wheel drive vehicle, or 2wd truck, snows on just the rear wheels will be fine. You can put em on the front too, but without, you'll be ok. Toss in about 400 lbs of sandbags, and you're set. Menards has them in 75 lb rolls.

Above all, ALLOW EXTRA TRAVEL TIME.

Also, turn your lights on, ESPECIALLY if you own a white or gray vehicle. They're hard to see in snowy weather. I always have mine on when the weather's crappy. People who don't are idiots.

Also leave a larger gap between you and the car in front. I usually leave about an 8 second gap in good weather.

Final tip: Keep an eye out for stupid women in Taurus wagons. I put my delivery truck in a snowbank one winter avoiding getting hit by one. Not much fun.

Avoid people on cell phones. Well, I guess that's pretty much impossible. Never mind :)

I take Kenwood-Skyline-Mesaba, exiting at 2nd Avenue.
And this doesn't address getting downtown, but I'd warn people who don't know: College Street between St. Scholastica and UMD gets really icy sometimes. I did a 360 there last year; it was like a skating rink.

The biggest one is leaving enough space between you and the person ahead of you. I don't wanna tell you how many times I've been rear-ended by people because they "weren't expecting to slide."

Also, if someone is coming uphill, they should be allowed right-of-way, regardless of the actual rules...

If you have to get up a big hill, sometimes it's best to turn and go another way, even traveling quite a ways to go up several smaller/well sanded hills to get above your destination.
This has saved me many times when my tiny little car didn't have the traction to go someplace I needed.
Ditto on the "uphill vehicles have right of way". Big hills like 27th West would be impossible without momentum.

Never, ever, even if you think you are Colin Mcrae go down an unplowed side street. 90% of your problems are now solved. Also, if you have the chance and have a big empty, safe place to practice, learn the limits of you and your car. Make sure it is somewhere where cops won't hassle you.

Here's footage from 19th & 8th by VIP Pizza and Tamron Market.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a293u2g27CE

In the event of 2ft. or more, plus you own a $200.00 beater. Plus maybe you spent your tire money on lives other....THE ONLY ROUTE is to take the Lakeside trek through London Road then up 40th.. left to Woodland then home. Florida out my front door...71 degrees 3-5 mile wind out of the east ocean BEAUTIFUL

i thought i was good, but i just abandoned my poor little hyundai in the middle of the road due to a moderately high snowbank... i should never had picked up that penny that was heads down as i walked out of the hammond. :(

My secret way up the hill in the snow-- 24th Ave E. It is the snow emergency route, no stop signs until 4th Street. If you are looking for good snow tires...try Nokians. They are Finnish. If anyone knows snow tires, its the Finns. We have all season Nokians on both cars and love them. Though it is a pain when you have to replace them because there are only two places in town that carry them- Foreign Affairs and Jakes.

Move to Central or East Hillside, or even Lincoln Park. a): You are never far from a snow emergency route and b): you are close to work and the shops you really might need to get to. Oh ... and for you drinkers out there, naturally you can stumble from bar to bar without much trouble