Side street
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (September 2007) |
A side street is a street that intersects a main street and ends there. It is generally of little importance to thru traffic. Being the last mile of the road system, it generally carries little traffic. Common characteristics of a side street include low speed limits (usually not more than 25 mph (40 km/h)), curbside parking, and few or no painted line markings to display lanes.
Most side streets are lined with residences. Occasionally, a place of worship or a school may be located on a side street, but in a residential area, it is rare to find any commercial development (this is often prohibited by local zoning laws, unless directly adjacent to a major street).
Side streets when built are mostly intended only for the traffic of their residents and visitors. However, many side streets that do not dead end are also used for rat running by motorists in congested areas.
