Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-01
MOTOR OMNIBUSES NEEDED
TO RELIEVE THE TROLLEYS
As Medium of Transit the Automobile
Long Ago Proved Its Great and
Growing Utility

TT ISN'T always easy to reconcile the
American theory of progress with the
individual Americans characteristic dis
trust of innovations intended to serve n
purely social end.
The motorcar for example hns bccn
achieving on" triumph after another for moro
than twenty years. II is doing useful work
everywhere in the world and expanding the
scope of its utility in n really amazing way.
! II has improved industrial methods and
mad" life rirh"r and plcasantrr. All its
promises ar" of increasing efficiency and
! added perfection.
Yet th"r" remains ono extremely painful
and troublcsom" problem in every modern
/ American city which has yet to he ap-
| rroa"h"d with consciousness Of the speed
with which motors could solve II. That is
th" problem Of transit in ronscstcd and
! outlying areas alike.
| Experiments with automobiles as n means
! 10 relieve trolley systems of their increasing
overload have been unsystematr and for
| the most part sketchy. The jitneys get
nowh"r" permanently. In Europe the sit
untion is different. Motorbuscs there do
most excellent transit service
| ter public use Of motor vehicles than Phlu.
dclphia Yet Philadelphia because Of it's
wild" dimensions and it's admirable habit Of
! pushing steadily outward for open country
and fresh air. is city in which motor
transit could be most efficiently developed
What will come ultimately from Mr.
| Mitt"n'S reported plan to put colnmodious
motorbuscS on the Roosevelt boulevard
cannot be tor"sren rs yet. For the present
| ih" I. X. T. management seems to be rx-
| perimentns carefully not only with the
| mechanics OF buses and bus lines. but with
the far more uncertain temper of City
Council and 'h" opinions Of the people.
Certainly the public should welcome this
wholesome departure from the ancient street.
car theory. What are the new boulevards
for? Not exclusively for joyridcrs. surely.
or for people lucky enough TO own their own
! motors.
Great thoroughfnres like tho Parkway and
| the Roosevelt Boulevard will not serve
| rational purpose until they arc used to re-
linvc III" hardships and difficulties which
tn" public suffers as result of over
! gcstion in the other streets and on trolley
lines.
The notion that motOred omnibuscs
these new thoroughfares or even In other
important thOroughfares would be ursighty
or in the way IS wholly false and mislead.
ing In foreign cities vehicles "r this type
actually add Il decorative note 20 the gen
eral scene. And they provide millions of
people with comfortable and plcasan,
means OF getting about
The new Frankford elevated line will
draw large part of the northeast section
into what YOU might call III" city proper.
The development that will follow after i,
is opened for service will tend outward
But such development will be retarded with :
out constant extension of transit facilities
in regions where. because of the lack OF
crowds. trolley lines couldn't be made ,c
pay for themselves.
We should accept motorbuScs even more
enthusiastically than New York long agC
accented them Room should be made fol
them on Broad street.
1t Is about time for the authorities I,
realize that tn" TRANSPORT Of people is fa
! moro important in every wa% than tn
transport of heavy freight, which nigh
easily he shifted to other thoroughiarcs.
Similarly. il the motorhus were TO be
part Of the transit system. omnibus line
, should be deliberately routed over some q
the central drives in Fairmount Park for tn
: benefit OF recreation seekers and resident
u in the northwest sections Of the city.
II There still IS feeling In philndelphi
Z that the Park. like the ncw boulevard
@ ougl, to be reserved for walkers and fol
: who happen TO own automobiles. But
Park drives could be put 70 better VI
~ than that OF giving tired people an oppo,
. tunity for a pleasant OPEN ride hon
y from work in the evening we should like
r. know what that use could be-.
IS Much would depend on tho appearance
bouleynrd and Park buses and the way
which they were managed. But the ci
will never enjoy the full benefits of Fni
mount Park until It Is possible to reach al
st part OF It quickly. pleasantly and cheap
ne without a long trolley journey or the aid
" n private motor or taxicAb.