How long is a block
Mar 9th, 2004, 01:57 PM
#1
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How long is a block
What is the distance of a block? Am I right in thinking that streets run north to south & avenues east to west?
Reason for such a question is I?m bringing my father (77) over for his first visit to New York. I?m planning our itinerary but want to know distances to see how far we can walk or if we need to take a bus.
Thanks. I?m picking up tips for our visit but hope you won?t mind if I post our itinerary for you to give feed back on.
Reason for such a question is I?m bringing my father (77) over for his first visit to New York. I?m planning our itinerary but want to know distances to see how far we can walk or if we need to take a bus.
Thanks. I?m picking up tips for our visit but hope you won?t mind if I post our itinerary for you to give feed back on.
Mar 9th, 2004, 02:07 PM
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Convetional wisdom says that in Manhattan, at least, it is 20 street blocks to one mile. Avenue blocks are almost always longer, but can range from 2-4 times as long. Not all of Manhattan is in an exact grid, so it varies especially where sreets and avenues cross (look at a map and see how much Broadway criss-crosses other avenues)
Mar 9th, 2004, 02:08 PM
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I'd ignore that last post. I'm not the expert, but I'm sure someone with the accurate information will post it. The first problem with the above post is that the distance between blocks going north and south is a fraction of what the distance is going west to east.
I can tell you this. In midtown, I usually figure walking about 1 minute per block. Invariably when I time it, if I go from 42nd to 62nd it will take 20 mintues, for example.
And by all means post away. We'd love to help. But I may want some Wales info in return since I'll be there for a week in May, my first trip into Wales.
I can tell you this. In midtown, I usually figure walking about 1 minute per block. Invariably when I time it, if I go from 42nd to 62nd it will take 20 mintues, for example.
And by all means post away. We'd love to help. But I may want some Wales info in return since I'll be there for a week in May, my first trip into Wales.
Mar 9th, 2004, 02:14 PM
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Dave, of course you're correct that avenues run north south and blocks are east west
BUT ...
to get from one avenue to another you have to go east/west, from one street to another, north/south
(of course, this all assumes Manhattan, mostly midtown--don't get us started on the Village, anything below Houston street, or any of the other boroughs!
BUT ...
to get from one avenue to another you have to go east/west, from one street to another, north/south
(of course, this all assumes Manhattan, mostly midtown--don't get us started on the Village, anything below Houston street, or any of the other boroughs!
Mar 9th, 2004, 02:19 PM
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walesgirl-
If you are not in a hurry, buses are not a bad way to get around in Manhattan. For North/South route, each Avenue has buses running N or S. For East/West route, buses run along the major streets (23, 34, 42 etc).
The N/S buses have stops every 3 blocks or so (unless they are Limited buses). The E/W buses have stops at every block. So, you never have to walk too far to get to a bus stop.
The buses in NYC are all "Kneeling" buses, which means the front of the bus lowers several inches when it stops, making it easier for elderly people to step on.
The major downside of the bus is the traffic, but if you are not in hurry, you will be fine.
If you are not in a hurry, buses are not a bad way to get around in Manhattan. For North/South route, each Avenue has buses running N or S. For East/West route, buses run along the major streets (23, 34, 42 etc).
The N/S buses have stops every 3 blocks or so (unless they are Limited buses). The E/W buses have stops at every block. So, you never have to walk too far to get to a bus stop.
The buses in NYC are all "Kneeling" buses, which means the front of the bus lowers several inches when it stops, making it easier for elderly people to step on.
The major downside of the bus is the traffic, but if you are not in hurry, you will be fine.
Mar 9th, 2004, 02:19 PM
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Think of Manhattan as a long oval with a handle at the top. The island is about 22 miles long, if I remember correctly and at the widest point (23rd St) 1 mile.
The avenues go N and S and the streets go E and W hence addresses, being on the east or west side.
5th Ave splits the city so anything with an address of 5 E 34th ST. will be just east of 5th Ave and the same for 5 W 34Th St.
Ok here's an easy guide, the even streets head east and the odd streets go west.
On the Avenues on the East side the odd numbers go North and the even numbers go south. It is just the opposite on the West side.
Broadway starts out at the very TIP of Manhattan on the west side and goes south heading east so it crosses all the major avenues and ends up on the east side of town.
The older part of town Wall St, Chinatown, Tribeca, SoHo, The Village, all have street names and most are not numbered, so you might want to have a map handy.
Another poster was correct in saying N/S it's 1 mile to every 20 blocks.
There are cabs and buses and subways that you can take to get around the city. When you get here, buy a metro card and you can use it on the buses and subways.
Have a wonderful time while you are here, and enjoy the city.
The avenues go N and S and the streets go E and W hence addresses, being on the east or west side.
5th Ave splits the city so anything with an address of 5 E 34th ST. will be just east of 5th Ave and the same for 5 W 34Th St.
Ok here's an easy guide, the even streets head east and the odd streets go west.
On the Avenues on the East side the odd numbers go North and the even numbers go south. It is just the opposite on the West side.
Broadway starts out at the very TIP of Manhattan on the west side and goes south heading east so it crosses all the major avenues and ends up on the east side of town.
The older part of town Wall St, Chinatown, Tribeca, SoHo, The Village, all have street names and most are not numbered, so you might want to have a map handy.
Another poster was correct in saying N/S it's 1 mile to every 20 blocks.
There are cabs and buses and subways that you can take to get around the city. When you get here, buy a metro card and you can use it on the buses and subways.
Have a wonderful time while you are here, and enjoy the city.
Mar 9th, 2004, 02:49 PM
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First of all, you've got it backwards. Avenues run north/south and streets go east/west. Previous posters are correct in that 20 north/south blocks equal one mile. East/west blocks can be anywhere from two to four times as long as north/south blocks. Thus, usually walking anywhere from six to eight east/west blocks equals a mile.
Mar 9th, 2004, 03:07 PM
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As long as you are in Midtown Manhattan, you can pretty much count on 20 Street blocks being 1 mile and 3 Avenue blocks being 1/2 a mile. Manhattan Island is about 2 1/2 miles wide at its widest point.
South of 23rd Street, all bets are off. Also, do not count Broadway as a crosstown block.
South of 23rd Street, all bets are off. Also, do not count Broadway as a crosstown block.
Mar 9th, 2004, 06:16 PM
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If you do most of your walking in midtown, judging walking distance is fairly accurate using this guide. When walking north/south (street to street) 20 blocks is one mile. When walking east/west (ave. to ave. ) figure 3 blocks avenue to avenue with the following exceptions - 3rd to Lexington, Lexington to Park (4th Avenue) , Park to Madison and Madison to 5th - figure each segment is 1 1/2 blocks. .
Mar 10th, 2004, 07:13 AM
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Numbered streets -- east/west
20 blocks = 1 mile
Avenues -- north/south
"short" = 2 street blocks
"long" = 4 street blocks
"Short" include Fifth Ave to Madison, Mad to Park, Park to Lex, and Lex to Third.
The rest are "long."
20 blocks = 1 mile
Avenues -- north/south
"short" = 2 street blocks
"long" = 4 street blocks
"Short" include Fifth Ave to Madison, Mad to Park, Park to Lex, and Lex to Third.
The rest are "long."
Mar 10th, 2004, 07:29 AM
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Outstanding question and responses!
From some knowledge of construction...Engineers plan blocks based on 100,000 sq.ft. this equates to just over 2 acres and very close to 17 blocks per mile.
Your mileage may vary.....
From some knowledge of construction...Engineers plan blocks based on 100,000 sq.ft. this equates to just over 2 acres and very close to 17 blocks per mile.
Your mileage may vary.....
Mar 10th, 2004, 11:23 AM
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Jacketwatch -
The length of blocks differs widely on a city by city basis - and indifferent areas of the same city. I've never heard your numbers before. If correct, they would apply only to chicago.
The length of blocks differs widely on a city by city basis - and indifferent areas of the same city. I've never heard your numbers before. If correct, they would apply only to chicago.
Mar 10th, 2004, 11:35 AM
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From 1st Avenue to say 10th Avenue in Mid-town would be about 2 miles. As you've got 13 avenues in between, figure a little more than 1/8th of a mile, on average.
In practical terms, to walk from the UN to Times Square, would be roughly a mile and a half.
In practical terms, to walk from the UN to Times Square, would be roughly a mile and a half.
