English: A ratty-looking Devil Strip in suburban Greater Boston, Massachusetts. Outside of rural areas in New England, devil strips are narrow - the one pictured is 52 in from curb to sidewalk. They are usually not maintained by the municipality, but rather by the property owner, and are used primarily to provide space for utility poles. The name Devil Strip or Devil's Strip is derived from the danger inherit to a person located on the Strip. One who is standing on the strip is close to road traffic, thus slightly increasing the probability of being injured by that traffic, should the Devil choose to do his dirty work.