Pavement or ‘Footway’?

Ours haven’t

At least it didn’t say “sidewalk” Footpath understand

Would always say pavement or footpath.

Footway is a perfectly good and legitimate word meaning specifically:

A way or path used chiefly or exclusively by pedestrians; a footpath.

2014 Plymouth Herald: We carry out regular inspections of the city's footways and roads but defects can develop very quickly.

Whereas pavement means just that:

A paved surface formed of stones, bricks, tiles, or similar materials fitted closely together.

There is also foot pavement which combines the two.

A pavement might be used by people with wheeled vehicles, bikes, scooters, wheelchairs.

Footway comes from German and pavement from French.

I came across footway a few years ago when I contacted Bear about repairs to a pavement for which they had responsibility, so I assume it must be the technical term used by transport firms.

Footpath, usually referring to a path originally worn in the earth by feet.
May later be tarmacked or paved as usage increases.

Wheniwasyourage

I came across footway a few years ago when I contacted Bear about repairs to a pavement for which they had responsibility, so I assume it must be the technical term used by transport firms.

Which bear?

Graphite

Footway is a perfectly good and legitimate word meaning specifically:

A way or path used chiefly or exclusively by pedestrians; a footpath.

2014 Plymouth Herald: We carry out regular inspections of the city's footways and roads but defects can develop very quickly.

Whereas pavement means just that:

A paved surface formed of stones, bricks, tiles, or similar materials fitted closely together.

There is also foot pavement which combines the two.

A pavement might be used by people with wheeled vehicles, bikes, scooters, wheelchairs.

Footway comes from German and pavement from French.

Very interesting Graphite.

Cossy

At least it didn’t say “sidewalk” Footpath understand

That always make me think of crabs scuttling along the pavement...

Oreo

Wheniwasyourage

I came across footway a few years ago when I contacted Bear about repairs to a pavement for which they had responsibility, so I assume it must be the technical term used by transport firms.

Which bear?

Logie, wasn't it?
(Yes, yes, I know - I'm sure me coat's here somewhere...)

Wheniwasyourage

I came across footway a few years ago when I contacted Bear about repairs to a pavement for which they had responsibility, so I assume it must be the technical term used by transport firms.

Well I suppose we say motorway and highway and byway so footway seems right when doing work.

I think foot way is a highways term meaning just what is says. Some footways are not paved, and pavements are not always for walking along.j

they will be calling it sidewalk next

Graphite

Footway is a perfectly good and legitimate word meaning specifically:

A way or path used chiefly or exclusively by pedestrians; a footpath.

2014 Plymouth Herald: We carry out regular inspections of the city's footways and roads but defects can develop very quickly.

Whereas pavement means just that:

A paved surface formed of stones, bricks, tiles, or similar materials fitted closely together.

There is also foot pavement which combines the two.

A pavement might be used by people with wheeled vehicles, bikes, scooters, wheelchairs.

Footway comes from German and pavement from French.

All that is true and perfectly legitimate, but at 80 I have been calling pavements …pavements. And footpaths …footpaths.
Footway just sounds odd. It may be legitimate but it is NOT in general use! Import from the US use maybe?
Rather like BoudiKa will always be Bowdiseea in my brain, however the pronunciation changes!
Yes I know it’s spelled Boudicia !

I , too have notice that my local highways department use the word footway instead of footpath on their signs

Pavement, always !

I'm depressed. I don't know what anything is called anymore.

Footway is a generic term for any thoroughfare that can be used by pedestrians. So using that term saves having multiple signs, which makes sense.

The signs here always say footpath never seen one saying footway or even pavement.

Several of us have made the point, knspol, that footway is used by professional road engineers and highway departments, not by the rest of us! There is no suggestion that we should start to use sidewalk or anything else, and most of us will continue to say pavement or footpath.

For information, Oreo, Bear Scotland is in charge of some of Scotland's main/trunk roads. Ours used to be looked after by Bear, but now it's Amey.

I would say path and at a push pavement. Never sidewalk or footway. I don't like the Americanism creeping in.

Pavement or footpath for me. At least footway does indicate for feet, not bikes or scooters.

Never seen this word used I must look out for it, I ve only ever seen footpath
I m with you Suelled bodiceea for me too

I think railway, motorway, bridleway and footway has a certain logic.