Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-18
TRAFFIC SURVEY
VITAL NEED OF
INDIANAPOLIS
Citizens, Whether Walking or
Riding, Meet Endless
AnnOyanceS.
ESSENTIAL TO GROWTH

The clock struck 5. John Smith,
average citizen of Indianapolis,
tossed a batch of orders into
basket, locked his desk. grabbed his
hat and coat and walked out of the
Office, which perhaps is in the Mer-
chants Bank building.
Five minutes later John cranked
up the Smith family f1ivver, which
had been parked all day long in
Meridian street near the Union Sta
tion and headed for Illinois street.
He had left a pair of Mrs Smiths
shoes for repairs in shop in North
Illinois street.
Between Georgia and Washington
streets the Smith family hivver went
merriIy along. but at the busiest down
town-corner had to wait four minutes
while the east and west traffic cleared
With thoughts of home, Mary. the kids
and pulling a mess of radishes out Of
the back yard garden John Smith
Just as the traffic policeman changed
the semaphore to permit east and west
traffic again.
Cars parked ct a forty five degree angle
one of which was backing out into the
center Of the street, forced John to steer
for the car tracks and follow an Illinois
car north. A College avenue car turned
into Illinois street from Washington
street and followed close on his tail
light. The Illinois car stopped midway
in the block between Market and Wash
ington streets. its further progress
blocked by a line Of cars taking on pas
sengers at the Market street safety zone.
John also stopped. So did the College
avenue car and half dozen other auto
mobiles behin1 it. 4 citizen in an auto
mobile parkH opposite the front Of
Johns fivver wanted to back out but
couldn't because John was in the way.
JOHN FUMED AND
THE OTHERS DID TOO.
John fumed. The mOtorman on the
College car and all the John Smith pas
SINGERS who also had thoughts Of their
own homes, Marys and backyard gar
dens berated the whole flivyer tribe, and
the driver of the parked car that was
blocked thought unpleasant things.
. But there John stuck for another three
or four minutes, the center Of a Jam
typical IN several downtown streets and
one Of the key figures in a traffic prob
lem that will have to be solved If Indi-
annapolis IN her civic development is to
keep pace with her rapid grown in
wealth and population.
How can the thousands upon thou
sands Of John Smiths hs assisted to get
from home to work ard from work to
home few minutes earlier and with
little less annoyance TO themselves and a
little less wear and tear on their trans
portation equipment?
And how can all citizens, whether they
walk, ride the street cars or motor, and
those who come from other cities, be en-
abled to get TO and from points Of in
terest and in and out Of the city with
less trouble than soma OF the very notice
able difficulties Of today cause?
Better traffic conditions is the answer.
of course.
It is for the purpose Of pointing out
specifically some Of the difficulties that
confront the motorist, the street car
passenger and the pedestrian to the end
that the average citizen may begin TO
think Of the problem and If unable to
offer suggestions himself may prod those
experts In the city government and
Continued on Page TwO)