Is a street block only one side or all four?

Question

Because me and my friends got into this big argument on either one block was a side of the street or all four,

Example: MOM IM GOING TO A FRIENDS

MOM: WHERE AT???

YOU: 4BLOCKS.

would u go around the street once or four sides down?

THIS IS CONFUSING!!!!!!!. please help figure out our crisis.

Answer 1

The distance of 1 block is the length from one corner to an adjacent corner.  You could walk 4 blocks in a straight line, or you may go 2 blocks, turn 90 degrees and go 2 more, or if you walk out the door and walk all the way around the block back to your door you've walked the distance of 4 blocks.

Answer 2

When people say one block, they mean the walk from one corner to the next. However, the inside of four blocks is known as a city block.

When telling your mother, you should just say four blocks, meaning how many streets you crossed.

Answer 3

Only one side facing the street.

Answer 4

When determining distance you only use one side of the block.  "She lives 6 blocks away." counts the number of streets you need to cross over and uses one side of each block.

However, if you were determining area, then you would use each side of the block.  For instance, "this block covers 5 acres."

Answer 5

A block is the whole block. But if your traveling its just one side.       --------

               I         I

               --------