The sun., 1919-04-20
ny DIR. JOHN A. HARRIss.
Special Deputy Commissioner. Police De-
pdrtment, Citv OF Nsp York, IN
Motor Travel"

Special Deputy Commissioner. Police De-
pdrtment. City OF Nsp York, IN
Motor Travel"
1t is my impression that the order re-
stricting certain thoroughfares for the
use of commercial and passenger We
hicles. respectively, which became ef-
fective last September. has been emf
nently effective and has proved satisfac-
tory to the public, SO far as the depart
ment can determine up to the present
date under the existing regulations and
notifications of original plans.
IL has served the purpose for which II
was intended, viz. tho affording OF
immediate and practical relief 10
traffic condition which had become a
veritable maelstrom that threatened to
be overwhelming on the more congested
arteries of travel in the city
Never had the situation been more
serious or the need for urgent relief
more pronounced than at the time the
order was promulgated setting aside
certain north and south bound thorough
fares In the borough OF Manhattan for
the exclusive use of each of the several
classes of vehicles.
Manhattan Island. approximately ten
miles long and two and one-half miles
wide. at its widest point, equipped with
but few desirable tratfic thoroughfares
running north and south and consti-
tuting the traffic centre of the city, pre-
scented "A problem with regard to the
facilitation OF the movement of its traf-
&c that was the subject OF much study
and consideration.
All who are conversant with the traf-
nc situation in this city are agreed that
In the original survey of Its streets no
thought was given to the traffio posi-
biities of the future, such as we are
experiencing at the present day.
Confronted with an almost unlimited
number of vehicles of all types and
having but limited amount Of roadway
space accessible for their use, 1t became
an absolute necessity to so distribute
the traffic on the streets as to mini
mize the possibility OF a serious general
traffic congestion.
TIE thoroughfares originally desig-
mated for the use OF each OF the sew
eral classes OF vehicles were decided
upon only after careful study and con-
ai,iersti ion. as most adaptable and ex-
pedent for the needs OF each.
1t il true that there was considerable
opposition TO the plan when II first
went into effect. but upon investigation
Il was found In the great majority of
cases that objection was made because
Of personal Inconvenience sustained
and without thoughts to the benefits de-
rived by the public in general through
its inception.
Provision had to be made, OF course.
for exceptions from compliance by
vehicles ordinarily granted the right of
way under the law, and for the use of
any thoroughfare Irrespective Of class
designation by vehicles receiving goods
or making deliveries or trunsacting any
hut roo ha hnA 20
be exercised in the case OF such vehicles
In order to prevent an abuse of the
privilege thus afforded them, and to
this end they are required to enter and
leave by the nearest interesting thor
oughfare set aside for their use imme-
granted such vehicles when transacting
business at places but a few blocks dis
tant from each other. but they are re-
quired to resort to the particular thor
oughfare set aside for tehir Use ihlme-
diateiy upon the completion Of their
business.
! consider that the adoption of the reg
ulation has been a decided step forward
in the management of trafilc affairs In
this city. 1t has relieved in a large
measure the serious congestion which
had prevailed on the more generally
traversed streets and avenues by COM
Polling the use of the thoroughfares set
Assure lpT tdCn CldSb Oh NeHlCleS, ana mas
eXacted the use of streets which, from
traffic standpoint. had been deserted to
the detriment Of the more general ar
teries of travel where more or less
congested condition was almost contin-
ually to be found.
Since the adoption OF this regulation
in the borough Of Manhattan, a similar
one has been put into effect as applying
to two thoroughfares in the borough of
Brooklyn, and is giving general satisfac-
ton.
close observation has been made as
TO the workings Of tho regulation in
the borough of Manhattan, and, as a
result. several slight changes have been
recommended for Its Improvement. 1t
is expected. that these changes, which
modify the territory restricted on one or
two thoroughfares In the central part
of the city and also uptown, and contain