American "lay-by"?

The expression "lay-by" came up in conversation today and I commented that I thought it was a funny word when I first moved over.  I was asked "Well, what do Americans call them then?"  Uhhh...   

My mind went completely blank.

What are they in the US?  Pull-outs?

I've thought the same thing...I don't think we have a name for it, do we? I'd like to know...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rest_area#Lay-bys

So the American term is Rest Stop?

I thought lay-bys could sometimes be those widenings of the road where you can pull your car over legally, like for a scenic overlook.

I think of Rest Stops or Rest Areas as being those official state restroom and vending machine facilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rest_area#Lay-bys

Even after reading that I still have no idea what a lay-by is. Do they mean the rest areas on the side of the highway? And what does this mean: "Equivalent terms in the United States are "turnout" or "pullout"." Never heard those terms ever. Maybe it's a northern thing??

I'd call the area on the side of a road the 'shoulder'.

"Equivalent terms in the United States are "turnout" or "pullout"." Never heard those terms ever. Maybe it's a northern thing??

"Pullout" is what I eventually thought of, but then I thought "No, that can't be right, it sounds ridiculous."    I don't know what language I'm speaking anymore.

I don't I've ever even seen a "lay by" as described in that Wikipedia article in America- I honestly have no idea what that refers to!

I'd call the area on the side of a road the 'shoulder'.

But in the UK the 'hard shoulder' is different from a layby...


Vicky

I think of Rest Stops or Rest Areas as being those official state restroom and vending machine facilities.

We have some here (in Texas) that have parking spaces only...no restrooms or anything. Some have toilets and vending machines, some have only picnic tables...but a large majority in this area and into the hill country are just areas you can pull over to rest or use your mobile or walk your dog or whatever.

But I would definitely say a lay-by would be the same as a rest area. I've never in my life heard the terms "turnout" or "pullout" used for a rest area though.

We have some here (in Texas) that have parking spaces only...no restrooms or anything. Some have toilets and vending machines, some have only picnic tables...but a large majority in this area and into the hill country are just areas you can pull over to rest or use your mobile or walk your dog or whatever.

But I would definitely say a lay-by would be the same as a rest area. I've never in my life heard the terms "turnout" or "pullout" used for a rest area though.

I agree.  We've got one on I-75, between Conroe and Willis, that has only picnic tables and trash cans.  I think it's been there since the days when I-75 was the main route between Houston and Dallas. 

But a layby in the UK seldom has anything more than a phone by which to call the emergency services or roadside rescude services.

Vicky

...but a large majority in this area and into the hill country are just areas you can pull over to rest or use your mobile or walk your dog or whatever.

Yeah, I think those are like what is called 'lay-by' in the UK.  I'd tend to call them 'parking area' or 'scenic area' but looks like some people somewhere in the US call them turnouts or pullouts.  There are also those roads in mountainous areas that like the truckers can pull over into - wondering what they are called?

I agree.  We've got one on I-75, between Conroe and Willis, that has only picnic tables and trash cans.  I think it's been there since the days when I-75 was the main route between Houston and Dallas. 

Yep...been up that way a LOT. And most of the ones along I-45 between Houston and Dallas are the same. I've had to stop at one years ago between Huntsville and Conroe (near the Sam Houston statue) and let a barely potty trained, frantic little boy pee behind a tree.

Yeah, I think those are like what is called 'lay-by' in the UK.  I'd tend to call them 'parking area' or 'scenic area' but looks like some people somewhere in the US call them turnouts or pullouts.  There are also those roads in mountainous areas that like the truckers can pull over into - wondering what they are called?

I have heard some referred to as 'scenic areas' before too. Unfortunately, in this area, there's not anything very scenic at all.

But a layby in the UK seldom has anything more than a phone by which to call the emergency services or roadside rescude services.

And very often a layby doesn't even have that! In my experience (out in the country), it's usually just a place to pull in. And in my experience in the US, they don't exist over there. There are rest stops, scenic areas, etc., but I wouldn't say any of those things is the same as a layby.

As someone who gets very sleepy while driving, the layby is my best friend! Around here, you get one every couple of miles on the dual carriageway.