rat run
Residential traffic shortcut
A rat run is a minor road or backstreet used by drivers to avoid traffic on main routes.
The term suggests the cunning, scurrying quality of rats finding alternative paths: Commuters have turned our quiet street into a rat run.
Primarily British usage.
Residents often campaign against rat runs through residential areas.
Alternate faster route
- back roadSecondary rural thoroughfare
- side streetMinor road off thoroughfare
- alleywayNarrow urban passage
- backstreetMinor road, secondary
bypass · lane · residential street · alternate route · escape route · quiet street · detour · service road
Exceeding posted velocity limits
- safetyFreedom from harm
- pedestriansPeople traveling on foot
- childrenYoung human beings
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
residential · complaints · traffic calming · speed bumps · chicanes · road closures · bollards · signage
Puzzle of passages
- routePath from A to B
- mental mapInternalized spatial representation
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- sat-navElectronic route guidance
Waze · Google Maps · algorithm · rerouting · wayfinding
Movement along routes
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- rush hourBusiest commuting period
- jamCooked fruit spread
backup · tailback · snarl-up · standstill · slowdown · arterial bypass · queue jumping · chokepoint
cut-through
Alternate faster route
- back roadSecondary rural thoroughfare
- side streetMinor road off thoroughfare
- alleywayNarrow urban passage
backstreet · bypass · lane · residential street · alternate route · escape route · quiet street · detour · service road · underpass
speeding
Exceeding posted velocity limits
- safetyFreedom from harm
- pedestriansPeople traveling on foot
- childrenYoung human beings
noise · residential · complaints · traffic calming · speed bumps · chicanes · road closures · bollards · signage · one-way
maze
Puzzle of passages
- routePath from A to B
- mental mapInternalized spatial representation
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
sat-nav · Waze · Google Maps · algorithm · rerouting · wayfinding
traffic
Movement along routes
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- rush hourBusiest commuting period
jam · backup · tailback · snarl-up · standstill · slowdown · arterial bypass · queue jumping · chokepoint · spillover
rat runmain road
Primary vehicular thoroughfare
arterial road · highway · trunk road · A-road · motorway