Hi! So, the term "surface roads" has caused quite a stir on French SE... Are those used in a pair with "highways" and need those be elevated. Personally I'd like to know irrespective of whether a city has elevated hghways or interstate connections and such, do you use "surface roads" casually i.e. is that something you would ask a cab to take when you don't want them to take the highway? What's the typical words you use to tell a cab to not take highways/elevated stuff and your trip?

Like in the movie Collateral, there is that sequence where the prosecutor argues about a cab route, but that's LA. If your city just has one highway connection and nothing elevated, and you could take it to go to your destination, is surface roads something you would use to ask a cab to not take that route? Is that somewhat technical?

Yeah, I'm repeating myself, sorry about that. If you feel like contributing an answer or comment on French, then by all means. Anyways, thanks for any insight.

@escarlateadamantine I'm not sure, but I don't recall hearing that term used in daily usage.

I might say "local roads" or something.

@escarlateadamantine You use surface roads to distinguish them from interstate highways. The ones that are limited access.

Here's the dialog bit from the movie: french.stackexchange.com/a/43844/26366

Do you use that term with taxi drivers?

Surface roads are at "street level."

In other words, they interact with all the other streets at the same level.

-Yeah, they do, but what I do is I get off on Grand and then l... Surface roads is what you want, that's what we'll do. (Collateral, 2004).

A limited-access highway is set apart, often elevated.

@escarlateadamantine Yeah, this just means they're on city streets, not highways.

Would you say something like "take by the city" to not use such highways?

No, I would never say "take by the city." That sounds like what a non-native speaker might say.

What would you typically use then?

I'd either say "use surface roads" or "get off the freeway [or interstate, etc.]"

Thanks by the way for the input.

But if you start on surface roads, then you'll just say "avoid the freeway"?

Sure.

This is in American English, you understand. In England they'll have different terms.

Back roads?

Dunno. They call their freeways "dual carriageways" though.

Ok, thanks!

Bonne chance.

Knowing is half the battle ;-)

@tchrist: I just got some genuine N95 masks, and they seem to be a LOT better than the KN95s. I'm going to use these when I visit my son in LA in two weeks, since LA county requires masks in indoor establishments.

For one thing, these don't fog my glasses. All the air is directed in and out through the filters.