STREET, AVENUE, ROAD, LANE OR BOULEVARD???

Yesterday, my husband and I were driving down a major street (two lanes in each direction separated by a median) when I saw a neighborhood street sign entitled Canterbury Street. The wheels in my head began to turn and I asked my husband “what’s the difference between a street, avenue, road, lane or boulevard?” He couldn’t answer. Thus my latest blog.

According to Merriam-Webster:

Street = a thoroughfare especially in a city, town, or village that is wider than an alley or lane and that usually includes sidewalks.

Avenue = an often broad street or road.

Road = an open way for vehicles.

Lane = a narrow passageway between fences or hedges.

Boulevard = a broad often landscaped thoroughfare.

I went onto Google and many items popped up. I went to each and checked out what they had to say and the following is a sampling:

“Whatever scarcities we may have in this world, a shortage of street-name suffixes isn't one of them. The possibilities include, but are not limited to, alley, avenue, boulevard, circle, court, cove, crescent, crossing, dale, drive, estate, extension, gardens, gate, heights, highway, lake, landing, lane, loop, park, parkway, path, place, plaza, point, promenade, ridge, road, roadway, square, street, terrace, trace, trail, village, or way.”

“A boulevard is two lanes in each direction with a median of trees or greenery running the length of it.”

“An avenue is often two lanes in each direction and in a nicer part of the area.”

“A street can be any number of lanes in each direction, but is generally associated with a town or city or suburb.”

“A road is getting a little more rural, generally one lane in each direction, but not necessarily.”

“We live on a 'lane,' which is definitely rural and does not even have to be paved (ours is).  I don't think lanes come in more than one lane in each direction and there are some dirt ones which don't even have that -- just pullovers occasionally so a car can pass going the other way.”

“Boulevard is usually a major surface street with 2 or more lanes each direction.”

“Street, Road, Avenue and Lane can all be used as commercial and residential district names.”

“Road equals a way between places made with prepared surface. A street equals a public road in a city with buildings on one or either side. An avenue equals a wide road or path lined with trees leading to a large house. A lane equals a narrow country road.” 

“Road names are assigned at time of construction and can be changed by petition of the neighborhood affected to the city government.” 

“There seems to be no rhyme or reason for street naming. Does it depend on width, length, importance, or (more likely) the builder's whim?”

So, as you can tell, I am no closer to knowing what’s the difference between a street, avenue, road, lane or boulevard?

But I bet I’ve got the wheels in your head turning. Do you know? What can you find out? And so the journey begins...