street grids
City block patterns
Street grids are networks of intersecting streets laid out in a pattern of perpendicular lines, creating rectangular blocks.
Most American cities were planned on grids, making navigation intuitive—you can give directions by counting blocks.
The downtown street grid runs north-south and east-west.
Older European cities, by contrast, often grew organically around medieval footpaths.
- intersectionsPoints where things cross
- roadwaysPaved vehicle passages
- one-way streetsRoads with mandated direction
- sidewalksPaved pedestrian pathways
- navigationDetermining position and course
zoning · connectivity · traffic flow · rush hour · bike lanes · perpendicular · urban density · alleys · curbs · fire hydrants · accessibility · cardinal directions · pedestrian crossings · boulevards · Philadelphia · walkability · topography · right angles
- city featuresroad, avenue, boulevard, roundabout, bridge
- city mapscity maps, city map, streets, city grids, neighborhood map
- urban designcity planning, streetscape design, urban design, streetscapes, pedestrian zones
- urban planningcity planning, zoning map, master plans, zones, zoning reform
- Haussmann Parisboulevards, apartment buildings, Champs-Elysees, sewers, water supply
- transitbus, subway, train, metro, light rail