Wick, Caithness, Scotland owns the planet's shortest road. Named "Ebenezer Place", it has only 1 address and is just 6 feet 9 inches in length. Its single numbered address is at the door to the No. 1 Bistro restaurant of the Mackays Hotel. Around 1883, the city required the owner, Alexander Sinclair, to nail a sign over the door located on the shortest side of the hotel. Ebenezer Place was formally designated a street in 1887 when the hotel's sign was finally put in place.
While Scotland has the shortest, the skinniest road is found in Reutlingen, Germany. The "street" is essentially just a passageway from a courtyard. When the road was measured in 2006, it was discovered to be merely 31 centimeters at its most narrow point. Sometime during the 18th century, the spot where it is at was destroyed by fire. In an attempt prevent a future circumstance, a narrow road was left between buildings. The result is Sp reuerhofstrasse. Literally none of the German car manufacturers have come up with a skinny enough automobile to drive this road.
When most people hear the term "crooked street," they invariably think about Lombard Street in San Francisco. According to Ripley's Believe It or Not, the crookedest street is Snake Alley in Burlington, Iowa. Completed in 1898, the street connects the downtown business district and a neighborhood shopping area. Snake Alley has 2 quarter-curves and 5 half-curves over its 275-foot length as it covers the 21% grade of Heritage Hill, between Washington and Columbia Streets. Like Lombard Street, traffic is only allowed to travel downhill.
In some instances, roads haven't been build to help climb steep locations. In New Zealand, we can see the most steep street ever. Baldwin Street in Dunedin is just 350 feet long, but climbs a glorious 35% grade. The city's grid layout was designed in the U.K. by those who hadn't ever been to New Zealand and were not familiar with the area's terrain.
Most people understand that the English drive on the left and that they have roundabouts everywhere. The Magic Roundabout in Swindon takes it to the limit. Cars travel counterclockwise around the inner ring. At the same time, the cars driving the outer rings circle in a clockwise direction. Technically, they are driving on the left and right side of the road at the same time while in the traffic circle.
While Scotland has the shortest, the skinniest road is found in Reutlingen, Germany. The "street" is essentially just a passageway from a courtyard. When the road was measured in 2006, it was discovered to be merely 31 centimeters at its most narrow point. Sometime during the 18th century, the spot where it is at was destroyed by fire. In an attempt prevent a future circumstance, a narrow road was left between buildings. The result is Sp reuerhofstrasse. Literally none of the German car manufacturers have come up with a skinny enough automobile to drive this road.
When most people hear the term "crooked street," they invariably think about Lombard Street in San Francisco. According to Ripley's Believe It or Not, the crookedest street is Snake Alley in Burlington, Iowa. Completed in 1898, the street connects the downtown business district and a neighborhood shopping area. Snake Alley has 2 quarter-curves and 5 half-curves over its 275-foot length as it covers the 21% grade of Heritage Hill, between Washington and Columbia Streets. Like Lombard Street, traffic is only allowed to travel downhill.
In some instances, roads haven't been build to help climb steep locations. In New Zealand, we can see the most steep street ever. Baldwin Street in Dunedin is just 350 feet long, but climbs a glorious 35% grade. The city's grid layout was designed in the U.K. by those who hadn't ever been to New Zealand and were not familiar with the area's terrain.
Most people understand that the English drive on the left and that they have roundabouts everywhere. The Magic Roundabout in Swindon takes it to the limit. Cars travel counterclockwise around the inner ring. At the same time, the cars driving the outer rings circle in a clockwise direction. Technically, they are driving on the left and right side of the road at the same time while in the traffic circle.
About the Author:
James Anderson blogs about the numerous car companies and also about traveling. He claims that the BMW car brand is the best around.
