St. Francis is a small lakefront city tucked between Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood and Cudahy. Kinnickinnic Avenue runs through its center, the Lake Parkway passes along its western side, and residential streets stretch east toward the bluffs above Lake Michigan. Because the city is compact, most roadside problems here happen in familiar places: in a driveway, on a side street, or in a parking lot near home or work. Lake Front Towing provides roadside assistance throughout St. Francis, 24 hours a day. Here is what to expect and how to make the most of a service call.
Lakefront wind and your battery
Being close to Lake Michigan has its rewards, but in winter the wind off the water makes St. Francis feel colder than towns a few miles inland. Cold is the number-one enemy of car batteries. A battery that is three or four years old may work fine in the fall and then fail on the first frigid morning. If your car clicks, cranks slowly, or will not start at all, a jump start is usually the answer. Our technician uses professional equipment that protects your car's electronics, then confirms the charging system is working before leaving.
After a jump, drive the car for at least 20 to 30 minutes to recharge the battery. Short trips around town will not do it. Plan to have the battery tested soon, because a weak battery is likely to fail again.
Street parking and tight spaces
Many St. Francis residents park on the street or in narrow driveways and older garages. That matters for roadside service. If your car will not start in a garage, the technician may need to reach the battery with a long cable or a portable jump pack. If you have a flat on a car parked at the curb, the side facing traffic is the hardest — and most dangerous — side to work on. Tell the dispatcher how the car is parked, and our technician will set up the service vehicle to protect the work area.
Kinnickinnic Avenue and the Lake Parkway
Kinnickinnic Avenue has businesses, bus traffic, and frequent intersections. If you run into trouble there, turn onto a side street or into a parking spot as soon as you can. The Lake Parkway is a different story: it is a fast, divided highway, and stopping on it is more dangerous. If your car fails on the parkway, move fully onto the right shoulder, turn on your hazards, and consider waiting away from the vehicle if there is a safe place. When you call, tell us your direction — toward downtown or toward Cudahy — and the nearest exit or cross street.
Flat tires from potholes and curbs
Older city streets develop potholes quickly after winter, and curbs on narrow streets are easy to clip when parking. If you have a flat, our technician will install your spare and stow the damaged tire in the trunk. Remember that compact spares are meant for short distances at moderate speeds — head to a tire shop soon. If your car has no spare or the spare is flat, we can tow it to a tire shop instead.
Locked out near the lake
Lockouts happen everywhere, but we see a particular pattern in lakefront communities: people heading out for a walk along the bluffs or to the beach, setting their keys down while changing shoes or loading the trunk, and closing the door. If that happens, call us rather than trying to pry the door. Our technician uses tools that open the door without damaging the paint, glass, or seals, and will ask to see identification and registration once the door is open.
Running out of fuel
Running out of gas in a small city usually means you are not far from a station — but walking there along a busy road, in winter, with an empty gas can you probably do not own, is not a great plan. Stay with your car and call. We will bring enough fuel to get you to the nearest station.
When the fix becomes a tow
If a jump start does not hold, the spare will not fit, or the car still will not run after fuel is added, the problem is likely mechanical. Because Lake Front Towing is a full-service towing company, the technician can arrange a tow during the same visit. We can take the car to a mechanic in St. Francis, Bay View, Cudahy, or anywhere else you choose.
Preparing for St. Francis winters
Keep a small kit in your car from November through March: an ice scraper and brush, a phone charger, gloves, a hat, a flashlight, and a blanket. Check your tire pressure regularly, since it drops as the temperature falls. Keep your fuel tank at least a quarter full. And put our number, (414) 520-7264, in your contacts now, while you are thinking about it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you help with a car in a parking garage or underground lot?
Often, yes, for services like jump starts and lockouts. Let the dispatcher know if there is a height limit.
Do you cover Bay View and Cudahy as well?
Yes. St. Francis, Bay View, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, and Oak Creek are all part of our service area.
Will I know the price before you come?
Yes. The dispatcher quotes the service upfront.
Car trouble in St. Francis? Call (414) 520-7264, day or night. See our roadside assistance services.