I'm reading "How Cities Work : Suburbs, Sprawl, and the Roads Not Taken"
by Alex Marshall, which is very interesting, but I have some confusion with the terms every american is grown up with but I don't know as an European.

The most difficult problem is the roadways: What is the difference between:
-Highways,
-Freeways,
-Expressways,
-Interstates and
-U.S. Highways

and what is the difference between
-Avenues and
-Boulevards

In the Netherlands we have three types of high-speed road:

• Normal road (50 km/h inside city/town boundaries, 80 km/h outside), 2 lanes
  
• Autoweg (car way) (100 km/h, but usually 70 km within city boundaries), comes in two varieties:
  
  • 2 lanes with some elevated and some (unprotected) level crossings connecting towns in rural areas, as upscale normal road
    
  • 2x2 lanes, elevated crossings and traffic-light-protected level crossings, connecting city parts.
• Autosnelweg (car fast way) (120 km/h, connecting cities over greater distances, 2x2 lanes), only elevated crossings, no stops ever (except for open bridges and traffic jams))

We don't have avenues and a boulevard is road with a wide pavement to stroll along, usually alongside a lake or the sea.

Also I have difficulties groping the true meaning of the word "subdivision". I think it's about the same as a Dutch vinex*-neighborhood (planned, 5000-10000 house "sleep towns")

Tijmen

* vinex = "VIerde Nota ruimtelijke ordening EXtra" or Fourth Memo Spatial Developement Extra

Usually, avenues and streets are very similar. Some cities choose to name North/South roadways "streets" or "avenues" and they give the other name to East/West roadways. Per exemple, in New York City or Calgary, every corner is made of a street crossing an avenue. (Except for NYC's Broadway.) Sometime, they're just the same thing.

In theory, a boulevard is a large divided street. Pratically, the name is often used for naming main streets.

A highway is a large road and it usually spans over long distances. Highway 66 is a good example of federal highway (owned by U.S. governement, not state or cities).

An expressway and freeways are main divided express highways. Interstates are expressways. Autoroutes, autobahn, Nationales, etc... are expressways. In Canada, maximum speeds vary from 100 KM/H to 110 KM/H (Alberta / Saskatchewan). Freeways are no toll highways. Turnpikes are tollways.

By the way, I got lots of roadways and signs pictures on my website: http://www.barracl...highway/index.html

Yes a European may question North American road terms, but think about this one:

We drive on a parkway, and park in the driveway.

Posted by Chronic Yes a European may question North American road terms, but think about this one: We drive on a parkway, and park in the driveway.

that's neat! it doesn't make much sense, but it's nice! you can't get confused... maybe if we come to visit you we could get messed up and park in the parkway... then we would be in seriously trouble!

A recent vacation in the Austin Texas area learned me this...

An FM road is a numbered Texas secondary, 2 lane highway...the FM stands for "Farm to Market"

A RR road is a numbered Texas secondary as well, the "RR" stands for "Ranch Road"

I also found a bar on RR12 in the hills, on the "Devil's Backbone" that has a big sticker on the door that states...and I shit you not.................

"NO LOADED HANDGUNS ALLOWED"

Highways are high speed roadways that have at level intersections (i.e. traffic lights) while expressways are those that have below or above level intersections.

I believe the difference between a Highway and a Freeway is mostly accessability and speed. Highways (here in BC) have a maximum of anywhere between 80km/h to 110km/h. Highways also have more turnoffs and more frequently have oncoming traffic. Freeways on the other hand go faster and usually separate oncoming traffic. They are wider, straighter and have no traffic lights (unlike the highway).

Posted by Chronic I also found a bar on RR12 in the hills, on the "Devil's Backbone" that has a big sticker on the door that states...and I shit you not................. "NO LOADED HANDGUNS ALLOWED"

There was a sign like that on the rest stop doors in Ohio.

Posted by andrea There was a sign like that on the rest stop doors in Ohio.

Yes... regrettably Ohio now has legalized concealed carry of handguns with a permit, so you can find those sign on such things as courthouses, elementary schools, hospitals, and even college campuses... basically any public building or other place where common sense fortunately precludes people from covertly packing heat.

http://gbcnet.com/...ways/glossary.html

freeway doesnt mean a "free" highway, i always thought that too.