Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-24
PARK MOTOR TRAFFIC

III WOULD be most regrettabie tf the deci.
i sion just rendered by Judge Ferguson
were interpreted to justify in Fairmount
Park the fagrant abuses perpetrated by
reckless and inexpert motor drivers on pub.
lie highways in and out Of the city limits.
The decision seems to be in technical accord
with the terms of the Motor Vehicle Act Of
1910. It means, apparently, that the Com
missioners OF Fairmount Park are without
the right to enforce special restrictions OF
any sort upon the Park driveways and that
the tramc in the Park is not subject to any
rule not generally applied under the State
law.
Broadly interpreted, the decision would
make 1t impossible for the Park police to
forbid the use Of the main drives to heavily
laden trucks. Judge Ferguson states fatty
that the commission has no right to fine or
arrest the driver of a smoking motorcar.
Yet the rule forbiddiny the passage of com.
mercial trucks through the Park was made
because the present drveways cannot stand
up under heavy traffic and because the Park
is supposed to be . pleasure ground. smok-
ing motors aren't permitted on the Fair
mount drives for the simple reason that the
gases from improperly adjusted engines are
supposed to be extremely destructive to trees
and shrubbery.
The Park Commission is frequently ac.
cused Of too rigid policy of traffic regu.
lation. But rs a matter Of fact It has
done little more than formulate an intelli-
gent code and enforce it consistently. As n
consequence Of this Paramount Park is a
safe and pleasant place to drive or walk in.
A liberal speed limit Is fixed for automo-
biles and those who violate it are quickly
represscd. The drives are kept in good re-
pair at slight expense because they are not
fn fhn nd ton nf nr1n nd oA
commercial vehicles. Accidents in the Park
are few because the speed fend has learned
to do his speeding elsewhere.
What Is needed in the city and on open
highways is stricter adherence to principles
suggested in the present system Of traffic
regulation in the Park. But the implica-
ton of Judge Ferguson's decision is that.
since m inadequate law permits abuses Of
the rights Of passage on a public highway
| elsewhere, the Park Commission has no right
to make special rules for the protection Of
the Park and the comfort and we'll being of
those who frequent it for recreation or rest.
The looseness of the State Motor Law
may have made such decision unavoidable.
| But il that Is the case the sooner the State
law Is amended the better it will be for
everybody.
If the people who Systematically abuse
the rights given them with an automobile
| license were permitted to have their own
way on the Paramount drives the Park
would soon lose its present aspect. The
central drives would not last six months
under the weight of commercial traffic. And
the foliage along the most frequented road {.
ways wouldn't survive for a season in the
noxious gases which the municipal police
permit conscienceless drivers to discharge
into the faces Of the people on city streets.
| On the boulevards recently brought under
the direction Of the Park Commission, and
even within Paramount Park itself. the
| Commissioners have established wholly un.
necessary parking restrictions. Since the
Park Is supposed to be a breathing place,
motorcars should be permitted to stop any L.
where at any time so long as they do not
impede general traffic.
| The rule under which machines are
compelled to keep moving on most drives is
inexplicably silly. 1t should be abandoned.
But on the whole the Park Commission has
n right conception of the general traffic
| problem. 1t has provided many excellent
examples for those whose duty it is to make
| reasonable and efficient traffic laws.