The sun., 1916-12-01
sun READERS SOFFER
TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS
". j. Crawford Suggests 3
Minute Intervals for North
and South Vehicles.
Two FOR CROSSTOWN
Edward Hatch. Jr., Urges That
shops Return to Spacious
Madison Square.

The campaign waged by THE Sun for
congestion relief In tho streets and
on the subway and 81" have brought
forth many expressions from readers. 1t
Is apparent that the problem which now
is ,ugrussing the attention of city Of
hcids and which has brought civic or
esui2atlons TO aggressive activity is Of
universal interest Here IL "A method Of
cure that has been suggested In a letter
b, William j. Crawford OF Brooklyn:
81 am Interested In the problem of
taJ.r rcgulation In our city streets. As
military instructor. realize the i'm
porianc, OF Keeping things moving. es-
pc..alIy where a column Of vehicles is
concerned. If may, offer the follow
hg suggestion or plan:
"Ou Fifth avenue Uakrn as an eX-
s.,r, have the northbound and south
tuld traffic move for three minutes in
eN,+ NNc minutes and the ,asjb bound
ami westbound traffic move for the two
remaining minutes in every five. In
other words. have the first. second and
third minutes In every five minutes al
lotied to the avenue and the fourth and
afih minutes to the side streets
There are many advantages i'm such
system. According to 1t vehicle
travelling at the rate OF fifteen miles an
hour could go three quarters OF a mile
tfftcen blocksD, without a stop. 1T
would also he possible to 60 from
Twenty-ninth street to Fifty ninth street
With only two or three stops OF two
minutes each. very decided improve
mcnt over present conditions Much
time could be saved without resorting to
speeding and as result much IL not
ell Of the congestion could be done away
with The traffic which would have
gathered In the side streets IN the mean
time easily could pass over the avenue
In the two minutes allowed for it.
Benefit 20 Pedeatriaus.
Pedestrians also would profit by this
plan. for they would have a clear way
Of three consecutive minutes on the
avenue and regularly occurring oppor-
tunties for crossing to the other side
This would serve to do away with sense
less rush and hustle II IL a common
sigh, now TO see man strive to hurry
across street as II everything de-
pended on II. only to saunter along the
neNt block as II he had all day at his
disposal He rushes from habit.
TO bring the desired advantages OF
this plan II would be necessary to have
Uniformity all along the avenue. This
could be secured easily by having the
policemen using each figure on their
Watches as the starting time for the
north and south bound move. A sergeant
could he detailed to regulate the time
pieces every day With little or no
trouble clocks could be issued to the
men which would tell or every first and
fourth minute by the ringing Of an elec-
trc bell which could be loud enough TO
b. heard by nearby drivers, thus faciI-
naiing matters still more. The bells
could he operated from some central
station on the avenue.
This plan could be put in operation
on other congested thoroughfares and
" the parallel lanes OF traffic be near to
one another an adjustment OF starting
minutes could be made to avoid the ten
dency Of reckless drivers rushing from
one 20 cross another before IL will close
70 escape the wait OF a few minutes"
Views Of Edward Hatch. Jr.
suggestion for the redistribution OF
business is contained In the letter Of Ed
ward Hatch. Jr. Of 1856 Fifth avenue.
He SAYS:
Any material improvement in the
Udut iraft1c congestion on Fifth avenue
nom Twenty-seventh street to above
fltt.eth street might well he placed in
tho category Of hopeless tasks There is
e'eiy reason To believe that the conges-
ton viii continue to increase. as there
is reason in the argument for believing
that no immediate or future plans can
D. found for relieving II.
Tho pleUappa Of thiu kna,,,if,l ..l