Alley
255597
224807240
2008-07-10T14:33:32Z
Tobusaru
1983159
[[Image:Marten-Trotzigs-Graend.jpg|thumb|[[Mårten Trotzigs Gränd]], 90 cm wide, the narrowest alley in [[Gamla stan]], [[Stockholm]].]]
[[Image:Alley melbourne.jpg|right|thumb|An Alley in Melbourne]]
An '''alley''' or '''alleyway''' is a narrow, pedestrian [[lane]] found in urban areas which usually run between or behind buildings. In the [[United Kingdom]] an alley may be a [[Rights of way in the United Kingdom|right of way]] or ancient [[trail|footpath]] in an urban setting. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient [[trail|footpath]] in an urban setting. In older urban development, alleys were built to allow for deliveries such as coal to the rear of houses. Alleys may be paved, or simply dirt tracks. Blind alleys have no outlet at one end and are thus a [[cul-de-sac]].
== Modern planning ==
Many modern [[urban planning|urban developments]] do not incorporate alleys. Installation of [[gate]]s to restrict alleyway access have significantly reduced [[burglary]] rates. On blocks where gates are not installed, residents sometimes erect home-made barricades at alley entrances.
[[Andrés Duany]], American [[architect]] and [[urban planner]] has long espoused the use of alleys as leading to a better integration of automobile and foot traffic in a neighborhood.
[[Image:Gate to alley.jpg|left|thumb|A gate to an alley in [[Annapolis, Maryland]]]]
[[Image:Alley.JpG|left|thumb|An alley in [[Palo Alto, California]]]]
In some modern urban developments, a service road may be built to allow for waste collection, or rear access for [[fire apparatus|fire engines]] and [[parking]]. Such roads are not alleys as they are too wide.
== United States ==
[[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] has about 1,900 miles of alleyways making it the largest network of alleyways in the world<ref name=alley>[http://www.suntimes.com/business/innovation/614274,CST-FIN-i-Alley22.stng Link text],Using alleys to fight heat, water runoff, Chicago Suntimes.</ref>. In 2007, the Chicago [[Department of Transportation]] started converting conventional alleys which were made out of [[asphalt]], into so called Green Alleys. This program, called the Green Alley Program, is suppose to enable easier water runoff, as the alleyways in [[Chicago]] are not connected to the sewer system. With this program, the water will be able to seep through semipermeable [[concrete]] or [[asphalt]] in which a colony of fungi and bacteria will establish itself. The bacteria will help breakup oils before the water is absorbed into the ground. The lighter color of the pavement will also reflect more light, making the area next to the alley cooler<ref name=cooler>[http://www.consciouschoice.com/2008/03/commish0803.html]Chicago’s Green Alley Program.</ref>.
== Other terms ==
Alleys which are narrow pavements between/behind buildings can be known as '''snickets''', '''ginnels''', '''jennels''' or '''alleyways'''. This has led to the [[portmanteau]] word '''[[Snickelways of York|Snickelway]]''', originally in [[York]], though the term has become more widespread. In [[Sussex]] the term [[twitten]] is commonly used whilst in Liverpool the term '''entry''' or '''jigger''' is more common. The word '''jitty''' is also often used in [[Derbyshire]] and [[Leicestershire]]. In Nottinghamshire '''twichell''' is a common name. In [[Scotland]] the terms [[List of Closes on the Royal Mile|Close]], [[Wynd]] and [[Pend]] are commonplace. '''Jennel''' is local to Sheffield.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2005/08/16/voices_sywords_feature.shtml :'Putting SY on the wordmap'], [[BBC]], [[22 August]] [[2005]]</ref> In [[Glasgow]], [[Edinburgh]] and [[Belfast]], and the surrounding areas, certain alleys are known as Entries, as in Pogue's Entry, [[Antrim, County Antrim|Antrim]], and Calton Entry, Glasgow.
In [[Australia]] and [[Canada]] the terms '''[[lane]]''', '''[[laneway]]''' and '''serviceway''' are also used.
In the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] alleys are sometimes known as '''rear lanes''' or '''back lanes''' because they are at the back of buildings.
[[Image:Allayamsterdam.JPG|thumb|right|An alley (steeg) in [[Amsterdam]]]]
== Activities ==
Reduced usage of alleys can result in their decline. Under use, poor maintenance, poor night time [[lighting|illumination]] and narrow width may contribute to an increase in [[anti-social]] or [[law|illegal]] activities.<!-- ; ''see [[alley cat]].|{{Fact|date=April 2008}} -->
== Use by automobiles ==
Many alleys, particularly 19th century ones, are wide enough to support [[automobile]] [[traffic]]. Such alleys are used in [[residential area]]s to gain access to [[Garage (house)|garage]]s that were built behind houses after the rise of the automobile. Others can be found in older industrial areas. Because alleys are narrow and often have only enough room for one vehicle to pass at a time, many alleys are [[One-way traffic|one-way only]]. An alley serving the main entrance of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, or carrying significant traffic, may be given a separate [[street name]].
== Other languages ==
"Alley" is of French origin, meaning "a way to go", and has been adapted in English as above. It is also used in parts of Europe such as [[Germany]], [[Croatia]] and [[Serbia]] as a name for a [[boulevard]], an [[avenue]] or a [[parkway]] (such as [[Karl-Marx-Allee]] in [[Berlin]] and Bologna Alley in [[Zagreb]]).
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== See also ==
{{commonscat|Alleys}}
*[[Street]]
*[[Great Yarmouth Row Houses]]
*[[Mews]]
*[[Rights of way in England and Wales]]
*[[Rights of way in Scotland]]
[[Category:Streets]]
[[da:Stræde (gade)]]
[[de:Gasse]]
[[es:callejón]]
[[it:Vicolo]]
[[nl:Steeg]]
[[sv:Gränd]]