# Why are Freeways called that? Even when there's a toll? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708 "2012-11-11T20:15:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/41 "2012-11-12T19:53:27Z")
The toggling back and forth of “End Freeway” and “Begin Freeway” along US 101 in the Santa Barbara area probably has to do with the access control along the right-of-way line. If the State has not acquired the access rights along a certain stretch of the highway, it cannot be designated a freeway. There was a very long and convoluted battle between the City of Santa Barbara and the State of California over the construction of 101 to be a freeway through the city limits. Santa Barbara wanted the freeway to be completely subterranean, so it would not be visible and “destroy” the ambiance of the city. Those requirements were damned near impossible to construct. The traffic volume along 101 over the years has increased, like traffic volumes throughout California, and there absolutely NEEDED to be a freeway in that part of the State. So the battle continued on and on and on… The coast is also very popular to bicyclists, and there are portions of the US 101 freeway where bicycles are permitted. Normally, bikes are absolutely VERBOTEN on freeways. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/42 "2012-11-12T20:24:56Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Can’t speak for the rest of the state, but “parkway” is not the generic term in NYC. If I want to use a generic term as in " My son is learning to drive, but I’m not sure whether he’s ready for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ yet" or “All of the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ are backed up, I’m going to take the streets” , the blanks will be filled in with “highways” not “parkways” or “expressways”. And if you’re just referring to the names of the roads, there are at least as many expressways as parkways in NYC (although plenty are not well-known, such as the Nassau Expressway and the JFK Expressway) Maybe things have changed, but back when I was growing up, New Yorkers called all the roads parkways generically. That’s because there were far more of them than the other designations (e.g., Northern State, Southern State, Sagtikos, Pelham, Palisades, Taconic, Sprain Brook, Cross Island, Belt, Grand Central, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River, Bronx River, Wantaugh, Cross County, and others). There were a few expressways (Cross-Bronx, LIE, BQE, Clearview), but parkways are far more numerous. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/43 "2012-11-12T20:37:04Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > So, why do people drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? Hey, someone should ask Cecil that! ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/44 "2012-11-12T20:58:01Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/45 "2012-11-12T21:06:22Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Maybe things have changed, but back when I was growing up, New Yorkers called all the roads parkways generically. That’s because there were far more of them than the other designations (e.g., Northern State, Southern State, Sagtikos, Pelham, Palisades, Taconic, Sprain Brook, Cross Island, Belt, Grand Central, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River, Bronx River, Wantaugh, Cross County, and others). There were a few expressways (Cross-Bronx, LIE, BQE, Clearview), but parkways are far more numerous. Like I said, I can’t speak about areas outside of NYC , but I’m 49 years old ,have lived in NYC my entire life and have never heard “parkway” used generically. Maybe they do it in the northern and eastern suburbs (which is where you will find the Northern State, Southern State , Sagtikos, Palisades, Taconic, Sprain Brook, Cross Island, Saw Mill River, Wantagh and Cross County parkways) but not in NYC. \*\*\*Expressways in NYC \* \*\* Brooklyn- Queens Bruckner Clearview Cross Bronx Gowanus JFK Nassau Long Island Expressway Major Deegan Prospect Sheridan Staten Island Expressway Van Wyck West Shore Whitestone \*\*\*Parkways in NYC \*\*\* Belt Bronx Cross Island FDR Drive Grand Central Harlem River Drive Henry Hudson Jackie Robinson Korean War Veterans Mosholu Pelham The expressway list leaves off a few names that I’ve never heard used ( the Dr Martin Luther King Jr expressway, the Trans-Manhattan Expressway and the Throgs Neck expressway) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/46 "2012-11-12T21:34:29Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Like I said, I can’t speak about areas outside of NYC , but I’m 49 years old ,have lived in NYC my entire life and have never heard “parkway” used generically. Maybe they do it in the northern and eastern suburbs (which is where you will find the Northern State, Southern State , Sagtikos, Palisades, Taconic, Sprain Brook, Cross Island, Saw Mill River, Wantagh and Cross County parkways) but not in NYC. > > The expressway list leaves off a few names that I’ve never heard used ( the Dr Martin Luther King Jr expressway, the Trans-Manhattan Expressway and the Throgs Neck expressway) They dug the Clearview Expressway across the street from my house when I was growing up, and I never, ever heard anyone call it or the LIE (which was three blocks away) a parkway. And I never heard anyone call the Grand Central Parkway an Expressway. The distinctions were always quite clear. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/47 "2012-11-12T21:35:14Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > … > > Normally, bikes are absolutely VERBOTEN on freeways. > ~VOW Iirc in Virginia, bicycles, horse drawn vehicles, horseback riding, pedestrians, and “self propelled machinery” which I believe refers to tractors, combines, steamrollers, and other such “vehicles” are forbidden on I-95 and possibly other limited access highways. A violation is a traffic offense, but you’d be a fool to take a buggy on that road to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/48 "2012-11-12T21:50:22Z")
When you enter a freeway, there’s a sign that NOBODY reads, about bicycles, mopeds, pedestrians, etc being forbidden entry. The whole idea of a freeway, with its limited access, straight stretches, uniform widths, and large radii curves is to enable the high speed travel of vehicles. There is usually a minimum speed limit, along with the maximum speed limit. If you’ve got a mom pushing a stroller, a kid on a skateboard, or a dog cart, the traffic flow would be constantly interrupted. Hitchhikers are absolutely, positively WRONG on a freeway. The hitchers are at the ramps, usually well-ahead of the sign prohibiting access to pedestrians, et al. It all falls within the “limited access” concept. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/49 "2012-11-12T23:38:40Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > I thought an even first digit meant it loops back to the two digit namesake, and an odd one only intersected it once. > > For instance, I-595 in Fort Lauderdale is a pure east-west that hits I-95 once. > I-295 in Jacksonville is a circle, and hits I-95 twice. > -D/a Interstate 680 in Omaha is part of a circum-urban loop, but connects to I-80 only one place (western terminus in southwestern corner of the loop). Northeastern terminus connects to I-29 in Iowa, which runs south to I-80. That’s the outer loop, I guess. The inner loop is I-480, which also connects to I-80 in one place (just south of downtown on the east side) and loops up and eastward for a grand total length of less than 6 miles, also connecting on its northeastern terminus at I-29 in Iowa. So in both cases, each even-numbered extension Interstate is like 1/2 a loop, with part of I-80 being another quarter of the loop, and a chunk of I-29 as the other quarter of the loop. It’s weird. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/50 "2012-11-13T00:45:44Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > They’re “free” as in unrestricted - no cross streets, traffic lights and such. That’s correct in Australia, in other words you are free to travel without interruption. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/51 "2012-11-13T00:49:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Maybe things have changed, but back when I was growing up, New Yorkers called all the roads parkways generically. That’s because there were far more of them than the other designations (e.g., Northern State, Southern State, Sagtikos, Pelham, Palisades, Taconic, Sprain Brook, Cross Island, Belt, Grand Central, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River, Bronx River, Wantaugh, Cross County, and others). There were a few expressways (Cross-Bronx, LIE, BQE, Clearview), but parkways are far more numerous. There is a significant difference: Trucks are not allowed on the parkways, but they are on the expressways. It’s important: On the parkways, many overpasses are too low for most trucks to pass under. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/52 "2012-11-13T23:31:26Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The term “highway” is rarely used in the northeast. There are expressways, thruways, parkways\* (the generic term in NYC), turnpikes\*\*, and (in NY) a couple of nonce names: the Adirondack Northway and the [Quickway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quickway) (a name I just love). > > I can’t recall driving on any actual freeways. Maybe in Florida. > > \*Common in New York. NY Parkways are different in that they do not allow trucks (and have deliberately low bridges so trucks or buses can’t pass) and they have no route numbers. > > \*\*The Connecticut Turnpike has no tolls, though it originally did. Um, tell that to EVERYONE I’ve ever met. Highway is used pretty much exclusively in parts of the upper Northeast. I know what those things you list _are_ from books, movies and TV, but I have never in my life heard someone local say any of them when not naming a specific one like the Alewife Brook Parkway. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/53 "2012-11-14T10:46:45Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Not, of course, counting I99, which seems to horribly offend highway buffs because it violates the naming convention. I-82 (mostly in Washington but part in Oregon) also violates the numbering convention. I don’t know if highway buffs are offended or not by it. It didn’t originally violate, but when they renumbered I-80N to I-84, I-82 suddenly found itself out of sequence. Alternatively, you could say I-84 is out of sequence, since I-82 had its number first. (In my opinion, they should have given I-82 an odd number from the start, since it seems to go more north-south than east-west, but that’s a different issue.) Of course, what they really should have done was renumber I-80S to a lower number. But that would have inconvenienced too many Californians, which is why they didn’t do it. There’s a number of other interstates that partially violate the sequence. That is, part of them are in sequence, but they cross another interstate that makes part of them out of sequence. For instance, I-89 in VT and NH crosses I-91, so the part south of that crossing is out of sequence. There’s a half dozen or so other such partial violations out there. > [@VOW](#): > > Normally, bikes are absolutely VERBOTEN on freeways. Not in Oregon. Bicycles are allowed on freeways almost everywhere in this state. The only places you can’t ride them are where there are no shoulders, such as certain bridges or tunnels. I have actually ridden my bike on a freeway once. Horrible, horrible experience. Which is why you rarely see them on freeways, despite them being legal. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/54 "2012-11-14T13:39:01Z")
In Canada, legally, at least for the purposes of the _Criminal Code,_ all publicly accessible roads are considered “highways.” “Public highway” has the same meaning for the purpose of Quebec’s _Highway Safety Code_; in other words, it refers to all roads, not just what we normally call highways. The HSC also contemplates what are called “limited access highways” which are roads accessible only via specific entrances and exits. That’s legally. In common parlance we talk about highways (generally, any high-volume and/or significant interurban road) and expressways (which Quebec anglos also call autoroutes), which are limited-access grade-separated roads, either intraurban or interurban. A “route” is any road that makes up part of the numbered highway system, but it might be a city street (e.g. Sherbrooke Street downtown is part of “route 138,” but nobody calls it a highway). A highway might have level crossings and traffic signals, but that would generally only be in rural areas. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/55 "2012-11-14T14:57:29Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > In Canada, legally, at least for the purposes of the _Criminal Code,_ all publicly accessible roads are considered “highways.” “Public highway” has the same meaning for the purpose of Quebec’s _Highway Safety Code_; in other words, it refers to all roads, not just what we normally call highways. > > The HSC also contemplates what are called “limited access highways” which are roads accessible only via specific entrances and exits. > > That’s legally. In common parlance we talk about highways (generally, any high-volume and/or significant interurban road) and expressways (which Quebec anglos also call autoroutes), which are limited-access grade-separated roads, either intraurban or interurban. A “route” is any road that makes up part of the numbered highway system, but it might be a city street (e.g. Sherbrooke Street downtown is part of “route 138,” but nobody calls it a highway). > > A highway might have level crossings and traffic signals, but that would generally only be in rural areas. Down here in the US, the term “highway” colloquially means a limited access highway, but I believe we also have the legal concept of a “highway” meaning a public street of any sort. There is a legal classification of route called a “US Highway” that is designated by a stylized white shield (e.g. US Route 1 on the East Coast from the Canadian border to the Florida keys). Some segments on the east coast have been surface roads since colonial times and remain so today, but now with lots of traffic lights and more stuff alongside. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/56 "2012-11-14T16:42:53Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > “Freedom of movement”. My cite is driver’s Ed. from 30 years ago, where they specifically told us that and specifically said that it would be on the test, so we should all get it right. And it was on the test, and I did get it right, and now it’s so deeply etched in my brain it will never come out. All I remember from driver’s ed is that a flashing blue light means a volunteer fireman and that was because it wasn’t in our book but was on the test and someone who took the class before me told me. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/57 "2012-11-14T22:31:24Z")
Two thoughts come to mind. “You take the high road and I’ll take the low road…” seems to suggest the first is bypass and the second follows local streets. I also remember a famous quote “There is no royal road to mathematics.”, that is to say when learning mathematics there are no shortcuts, no bypasses. I agree that highway means main road (which would be a big, wide road with lots of traffic) and freeway means a highway which allows traffic to flow freely without things like stop signs. In the USA, highways which are part of the interstate highway system and almost always freeways, but others such as US highways or state roads are a mixed bag, with some sections allowing free flow of traffic and other sections with traffic lights and stop signs. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/58 "2012-11-14T23:50:20Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Not in Oregon. Bicycles are allowed on freeways almost everywhere in this state. The only places you can’t ride them are where there are no shoulders, such as certain bridges or tunnels. I know this is true, but I’m so used to seeing a long list of things not allowed on the highway by so many on-ramps (kind of [like this](http://www.upstatenyroads.com/signshop/freeway-entrance.png) but a much longer list, and it doesn’t say “freeway”), that I’m always startled when someone mentions cyclists on one. ---
**Author:** ![wanderer2575](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@wanderer2575](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wanderer2575)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/59 "2012-11-17T17:34:32Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Interstate 680 in Omaha is part of a circum-urban loop, but connects to I-80 only one place (western terminus in southwestern corner of the loop). Northeastern terminus connects to I-29 in Iowa, which runs south to I-80. > > That’s the outer loop, I guess. The inner loop is I-480, which also connects to I-80 in one place (just south of downtown on the east side) and loops up and eastward for a grand total length of less than 6 miles, also connecting on its northeastern terminus at I-29 in Iowa. > > So in both cases, each even-numbered extension Interstate is like 1/2 a loop, with part of I-80 being another quarter of the loop, and a chunk of I-29 as the other quarter of the loop. > > It’s weird. Actually, I-680 runs concurrent with I-29 north to Loveland, then runs east to connect with I-80 near Minden. The even first digit on a three-digit interstate route generally means it’s a route through or around a city, while an odd first digit means it’s a spur. Even first digit routes usually connect with a mainline (one- or two-digit) route on both ends, but both connections are not necessarily with the parent route – such as I-480, which connects to I-80 at its western terminus and to I-29 at its eastern terminus. Sometimes the even-odd numbering convention has to be violated because there are no other possibilities (a three-digit route number can’t be duplicated within the state). The one that gives roadgeeks heartburn is I-238 in California, which doesn’t connect to I-38 on either end – in fact, there is no I-38 anywhere in the country. California had no choice because every three-digit number ending in “80” was already taken. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708/60 "2012-11-17T17:40:11Z")
There is a Route 38 in California, but it is a State Highway, and not an interstate. It probably isn’t even close to I-238, either…LOL. It’s located in rural Southern California. ~VOW [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-freeways-called-that-even-when-theres-a-toll/640708.md?page=4)