• The Mandarin term “后巷” is a paraphrase of the English term “back alley”.
• As back alleys are not official streets, they have no names.
• In the 19th century, shophouses in Singapore were built back-to-back without back alleys. Firefighters and nightsoil men had to enter via the front doors, which caused problems for fire safety and hygiene.
• In 1909, the revised Municipal Ordinance promulgated by the British colonial government stipulated for the first time that back alleys had to be constructed between new buildings, and that connecting structures between existing buildings had to be demolished to create back alleys.
• After 1920, back alleys were found between all buildings.
• There are generally three types of back alleys:
  1. A narrow passage between two rows of back-to-back shophouses. Depending on the width, some can only be used by pedestrians, motorcycles and deliverymen with trolleys, while others can allow larger vehicles such as lorries to pass through.
  2. A passage between a row of old shophouses and taller new buildings behind them. These back alleys are wider and may provide access to vehicles of the tenants or visitors of the new buildings.
  3. A green space between two rows of back-to-back shophouses, with a pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.

After undergoing cleaning and repair, most of the back alleys are rejuvenated and have become bright, clean and tidy. (Lianhe Zaobao, 7/1/2021)

• Although back alleys were often the site of illegal activities in the early days, they were also places for children to play in and for street hawkers and back-alley barbers to earn a living in.
• Today, back alleys are mostly used for placing rubbish bins, installing air conditioner compressors, and parking. However, some have been converted into outdoor dining spaces, while others have murals on the walls, turning them into popular photography spots for tourists