re:"Don't Block The Box".
What the...?
This is a common Manhattan street sign. Manhattan is the easest place in the world to get around, since 90% of the streets are gridwork... (starting just above SoHo, all streets have numbers... starting at 1, and going up to 225 (in Manhattan) with the same numbers extending into the Bronx (260th Street or so) the high the number, the farther North you have gone.. Mid Town extends from about 33rd St, (empire state building,) to the 70's (Lincoln Center) (40 blocks or so, about 2 miles, or 3.5 K)
Avenues are generally numbered too, 1st Avenue being the closest to the edge of the continent (east side) and 12th next to the North (Hudson) River--(west side).
the gridwork results in most intersections being square or box shaped.. to prevent "gridlock" (traffic jams) it is illegal to enter the "grid" or box, unless there is enough room to travel through the box, and exit on the other side..
if there isn't, you are "blocking the box" if you are blocking the box when the light changes (at rush hour, in midtown) you risk a $350 fine!--and since you are contributing to gridlock-- the traffic cop is a foot patrolman, who walks up to your gridlocked car, and tickets you on the spot! there is no where for you to escape to!
in other areas the fines are smaller, and less likely to be impossed, since they are unlikely to become "gridlocked"--
so, should you plan a visit to the big apple, take the subway, don't drive, but if you do, don't block the box--other cities use the term, even when the local intersection are not always 'boxes'--just as gridlocked is used for traffic jams.
