---
title: "Alley"
url: "https://commonwaysystem.org/patterns/local-streets/alley/"
id: "LOC-ALY-02"
description: "A narrow Local Typology carrying service and driveway access, with vehicle and freight movement prioritized over through pedestrian and bicycle traffic."
updated: "2026-09-26"
---

# Alley

`LOC-ALY-02`

Recommended Local

Alley

A narrow Local street serving rear or side property access, service vehicles, and utility placement rather than through movement of any mode.

Typical at: Compact Urban Core

Suburban is an edge case. Undeveloped and Rural contexts are unlikely to carry a purpose-built alley.

## Speed and modal hierarchy

Design speed & speed limit

\[SPEED LIMIT 20\]

Follows the Local default: 20 mph hard maximum, no exceptions.

See [Design Speed & Speed Limits](https://commonwaysystem.org/guide/design-speed.md).

Modal hierarchy

Vehicle > Freight > Pedestrian > Bicycle > Transit

Alley inverts the Local base order. The override is justified because the Typology's stated purpose is service and driveway access, not through movement, one of the closed set of triggers that permits a departure from the base order.[1]

## Design notes

Because an alley is not a through-route for people walking or biking, its narrow width and service function do not conflict with the 20 mph Local speed cap. The override applies to mode priority, not to the speed rule.

## Related patterns

[Default (Standard Local Street)](https://commonwaysystem.org/patterns/local-streets/default.md) (LOC-DEF-01) (the base modal order this pattern inverts), [Curb Cut / Driveway Apron](https://commonwaysystem.org/patterns/elements/curb-cut-driveway-apron.md) (ELM-CCA-04) (the Element governing the driveway access this Typology exists to serve)

## References

1.  Precedent-based [NACTO, _Urban Street Design Guide_, "Green Alley" and "Commercial Alley."](https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/streets/green-alley/)