Why do West Coaster use the word "the" in front of highway identifications

[dr.strangelove]

As in "The 5" or "The 84" or "The 101" . . .

I was recently back on the West Coast, where I lived for several years, and I forgot about this coastal distinction. The East Coasters from Beantown, NYC, DC and Miami (I can only speak for where I have lived, but I suspect its most or all of the East Coast) omit the word "the" and just say the identifier. Such as, Take 95 South to 495 East, then get off at Exit. . ."

Is there some history to this, or is it just one of those "things that make you go hmmm?" (Reference to very bad 90s song unintentional)

[rucky]

1. "the 5" sounds better

doesn't it?

poll?

I'd love to debate this somemore, but I'm going to the market to get a pop.

[dr.strangelove]

2. Market, Pop ARGH!!!

[Beaverhausen]

3. I know what you mean...when I visit Philly I never say "the 76"

I have no idea why they do it this way out here.

[jjmalonejr]

4. Maybe this...

When West Coasters say "The 5 North", they mean "The 5 Freeway." The word freeway is implied.

When East Coasters say "95 South," they mean "Route 95 South". The word route is implied.

[dr.strangelove]

8. The 5 and the 95 are the same type of road.

I-5 is the westernmost interstate in the lower 48. It is the most used raod in Washington, Oregon and California. I travel a great deal in these states and everywhere you go, directions are given witht eh word "the" in front of "5".

I-95 is the easternmost interstate. It is probably (though I don;t have stats for this one, I do on I-5 somewhere) the most traveled road on the east coast. I live in NY and travel from Boston to Miami often and never have heard someone call it "the 95."

On the east coast, "95 south", means take the I-95 freeway heading south just as "the 5 south" means take the I-5 freewaay south. I agree the term freeway is implied (though freeway v. highway is another coastal oddity).

[Guaranteed]

20. I'm wrong, nevermind.

:)

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

5. Only in SoCal

Up north, people don't say "the 101". Just "101 south".

[dr.strangelove]

6. I don't know

I lived in San Mateo for 18 months and got plenty of "the 101"

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. I agree that it's SoCal...

I've lived in SF all my life, and we locals call it simply 101 or 280 or 380, never "the 101".

When I am watching LA news and here that "the 5" thing it grates on my ear. :)

[yvr girl]

9. Canadian West Coast

If I was talking about American highways, I would say, "Take I-5 south..." no 'the'. I use the 'the' when talking about Canadian highways. Take the number 1 to Hope and then take the number 3 to the Kokahala.

I don't know why. Another thing that makes you go mmmmm.

[pink-o]

12. I validate that position

In the Bay Area, it's 101, 80, 24, 280, 380, etc.

Of course, I wish I could designate it "the BIKE LANE" on 101, 80, 24, 280, 380.....:D

[Shakespeare]

15. Really? Every newscast and radiocast I've heard uses "the"

The 580...the 880...the 101...

[Shakespeare]

14. Oh yes, they do.

I live in the north bay and work in SF, and announcers always put "the" before the freeway/highway names, as do the average joes.

[CO Liberal]

10. I Grew Up in New Jersey

Every highway had "Route" in front of it, whether it was a state, US, or Interstate Road. Here in Colorado, they differentiate - the Interstate is "I-25", the main east-west highway that goes through Pueblo is "US 50", and the state road that parallels it for a few miles is "Colorado 96".

(Originally posted on the other thread that died.)

[DrWeird]

11. Must be a California thing.

I've always called, and heard it called, I-5 or 101. Or maybe Highway 101.

[SmileyBoy]

13. In the midwest, we use "I" when referring to an interstate.

Like "Take I-94", or "Take I-29".

[MrScorpio]

16. Bingo

But in Detroit it's "the Ford Freeway" for I-94 or "the Chrysler Freeway" for I-75, or "the John C. Lodge" or "the Fisher Freeway". Outside of the city it's I-94, I-75, or I-96

We invented the goddamned cars that drive on these highways and that's the way it ought to be.

Any other way is heresy

[SoCalDem]

17. Because we spend 2/3 of our lives ON the freeways,

we have elevated them to a higher level of importance :P

[DieboldMustDie]

18. They get their kicks...

on the 66.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. I lived in Oregon for 18 years

and never heard "the" with a numbered highway.

However, there was "the Banfield," which was the local, unofficial name for the section of I-84 that runs through Portland.

[dr.strangelove]

21. I spent about 6 years in Portland

and many people I knew and still know use "the" before 84 or 5. I even heard "the" before 26 and 99W or 99E, but less often than with the interstates. I think its pretty strange too.

I was out in Portland two weekends ago and went up to Mount Tabor for a boxcar derby. When I got directions to Mt. Tabor from my airport hotel I got "the 205" as a direction from my native oregonian friend.

Glad to see an Oregonian and a Portlander on DU. I miss that wonderful city so very much. I would move back right now if I could, and I plan to move back within 10 years.