another road up a mountain

A road up a parabolic mountain is being planned.[br][br]Can you devise a measure of "steepness" for the road?[br]Does your measure depend on where you are on the road?[br][br]Can you devise a measure of "curvy-ness" for the road?[br]Does your measure depend on where you are on the road?[br][br]Compare this applet with the "road up a mountain" applet[br]on this website? How are the two applets similar? How do they differ?

Information: another road up a mountain