Why do people from California say “the” before numbered roads and not before named roads?

[Brandi555]

I live in NY and we would say take 84 or 684. But in California they say take “the” 101 or “the”405. Also in NY we would say take “the” TSP or “the” GWB while in California they’d say take PCH. They add the “the” before numbered roads while we negate the “the”. And they negate the “the” before lettered roads where we add it. lol. Omg that was confusing AF 😂😂😂😂

[Static_In_The_Attic]

You have the PAST, you have the PRESENT & you have the Future & to answer your question we will have to take a trip back in time. As for freeways when they first appeared they didn’t have numbers they had names.

Let’s go on a road trip, shall we? As for our journey it’s a journey into the past. As for our journey it starts in California. It’s a beautiful day, life is good & you & I are going for a drive in our Time Machine. As for us we are driving along & you look over to me & you ask me where we are. I look over into your dazzling eyes & say we are on THE Santa Monica Freeway. A little times goes by & we take a wrong turn & the next thing I know we are on THE Golden State Freeway. After that you & I are lost & we take another turn & the next thing I know we are on THE San Diego Freeway. As for you you’re playing with the radio or what you think is the radio. It wasn’t the radio it was the time circuits & after that boom we jump forward in time. I look over at you & I ask where the hell are we & you look around & see a sign & after that you say we are on THE 405.

Some people still say THE & it’s not only in California.

I’m hungry how about you? Back in the Time Machine we go. I’m up for up for cheesesteak & I know you want one too. As for our journey we go back in time & we drive to Philadelphia Pennsylvania for cheesesteaks. We’re driving along & you ask me where we are & I look over to you & say there is a map in the glove compartment.

Long story short you & I are on THE Schuylkill Expressway & you are playing with the radio again. Boom we jump into the future & now we are on interstate 76 or I-76 & you notice I didn’t say THE before 76. Why? I have no fucking clue.

I’m up for a drive let’s go to Jersey. Boom we are on THE Garden State Parkway.
I’m up for another drive let’s go to New York. Boom we are on THE Long Island Expressway or THE LIE or 495 or some say I-495.

Did you know I stand for interstate? Of course you did your not an idiot or a 🦥.

Speaking of interstates did you know there is an interstate in Hawaii?

How is that possible?

[Brandi555]

Everything you said, with the exception of 🦥, is wildly misleading, inaccurate, obscene, hilarious, vulgar, and mildly offensive.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

Thank you!

[WindAtMyBack]

I remember that when I lived in California. I don't know why. But I speculate that it's short for "the I-5 interstate" or "the 580 bypass". With words like "interstate" or "bypass" the article makes more sense.

[Brandi555]

But we have intestate 84. So we would say take 84 or I84. Not THE I84. lol.

[WindAtMyBack]

Not everyone says things the same way. Just consider it a local dialect. There are much stranger things in language.

[Abbycado]

I have no idea. Maybe they got shot backwards and there are two 101’s so they need to specify THE 101 and not that other pos 101…

[Brandi555]

I don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Abbycado]

Never been accept at THE airport one time. XD

[Brandi555]

Lmfao 😂😂😂😂. Stop making fun of THE question. 😂😂

[Abbycado]

XD XD

[Abbycado]

Ty for mho!

[AI Opinion]

I'm your travel buddy, Jason, here to unravel the quirks of road lingo! ☺️ California's use of "the" before highway numbers, like "the 101" or "the 405," is rooted in regional language patterns. It’s believed that the naming convention originated from earlier highway names that included "the" before names, such as "the Pasadena Freeway." As a result, this tradition extended to numbered highways. Conversely, in New York, using "the" before named roads like TSP or GWB aligns with the natural speech patterns in the region. It's fascinating how language varies geographically, adding charm to your travel vocabulary! 🌍

[nawtee_me]

Do you know what the interstate numbers mean? Even number interstates I 20 for example goes east/west. While odd number interstates I 49 goes north/south. Also if you see I 110 the first 1 means that the interstate will end, where as if you see I 210 the 2 means it is a loop around something. Usually the city.

[Brandi555]

Ok. Then why does I 84 go east and west and I 684 goes north and south?

[nawtee_me]

Is 684 a circle or loop?

[nawtee_me]

One end is I 287 and the other is state get 22. It is an auxiliary route

[Brandi555]

I don't know.

[Brandi555]

Ok smarty pants. I95 is nifty and south and I287 goes east and west. Eagerly awaiting your excuse for this. 🙄

[nawtee_me]

Interstate 287 (I-287) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in New Jersey and New York, serving as a partial beltway around New York City, roughly horseshoe-shaped, See the shape of the 2 which is an indicator showing that it is a loop and not an east/west or a north/south interstate. If is were 687 it would be a complete loop around the city.

[Brandi555]

Nope. If you’re following directions it says take 287 east. Not take 287 horseshoe loop. 😂😂😂

[nawtee_me]

Interstate numbers follow a system where even numbers generally indicate east-west routes, with lower numbers in the south and higher in the north, while odd numbers represent north-south routes, with lower numbers in the west and higher in the east.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
East-West Routes (Even Numbers):
I-10 is the southernmost major east-west route, running from Santa Monica, California to Jacksonville, Florida.
As you move north, the numbers increase (e. g., I-10, I-20, I-40, I-60, I-80, I-90).
North-South Routes (Odd Numbers):
I-5 is the westernmost major north-south route, running from the US-Canada border in Washington state to the US-Mexico border in California.
As you move east, the numbers increase (e. g., I-5, I-15, I-25, I-35, I-45, I-55, I-65, I-75, I-85, I-95).
Major Routes Divisible by 5:
These often represent coast-to-coast or border-to-border routes (e. g., I-10, I-40, I-70, I-90).
Three-Digit Routes:
These are typically auxiliary routes, such as loops or spurs, that connect to the main interstate.
Exceptions:
There are some exceptions to this general rule, such as the I-35 split in Texas and Minnesota.

[Brandi555]

I don’t think you really know what you’re talking about. 🤭

[KostasKouvalis]

It sounds better, I guess. But it's not just a CA thing, because they say it in the Pacific NW too, so I guess it may just be a West Coast thing

[QuestionObsession]

Maybe the 'The' in Cali comes from 'El' in Spanish. Cali has a lot of Mexican influence doesn't it?

[dougeats]

I never moticed that! LOL I'm from NY too by the way

[NathanDavis]

because New Yorkers always in a rush...

[Brandi555]

First, we’re in a rush cus we have stuff to do. Second, wtf does that have to do with the question?

[NathanDavis]

everything...

if someone asking you for directions... and you don't stop to explain, you just say 101, 405...

and that's it... you know where to go, what to take, went on your way, lmfao...

[Brandi555]

Oh I see. Saves valuable milliseconds

[NathanDavis]

and your neck from a strain... yeah

[slatyb]

they wouldn't say "Take PCH", it's "the PCH"

[Brandi555]

I’ve heard them say take PCH.

[fish5505_87]

Yes, we must be near each other!