On average how far is a block in terms of distance.. I ask because?

Question

a lot of Americans [if you ask them directions] will say that wherever you are looking for is a block away... We don't have this concept in the UK..
Also do most Americans pronounce the word ROUTE as "root" or "rowt"?

Answer 1

A block is the distance from one cross street to the next.

I say "Root", but it depends a lot on what area of the country you're from.

Answer 2

Town planning sort of died out with the Romans, and re-surfaced in the reformation.

A block, is actually a block of housing, thus is an island of pavement. Since most American cities were developed rather later than their European counterparts, they devised a system whereby the 'avenues' running in one direction were numbered, and the streets in the other were lettered. Hence Fifth Avenue. A block is created by this grid pattern.

As for spelling, the Americans have always been uneasy about the use of English, and it is route, just pronounced incorrectly.

Answer 3

A block is from one stop sign to the next stop sign. Most cities are set up in a grid type pattern, making it look like little blocks when you look at a map.

I say "rawt". We have a lot of rural routes around here and it is hard to say the other way. However, when talking about a highway such as Route 66. I say "root" .
It's an Either ve. Ither kind of thing. We understand both.

Answer 4

1. Get your kicks on "ROOT" 66.

2. A block is not a determined distance. Keep in mind most American cities are laid out like grids:

___I I___I I_Z_
---- I I ----I I ----
_X_I I_Y_I I___
------------------

The square area of 'X' and 'Y' with four streets surrounding them are 'blocks'. If someone was to ask how to get to point Z, whilst in block Y, an American would say, "it's only a block away". Usually between 2 and 4 minutes walk per block, in an average American town.

Answer 5

A block generally refers to a group of buildings from one street to the next.

Answer 6

block is generally about 1/8 of a mile.

root

Answer 7

Good question, I had wondered that too. Now I know, thanks...;