The Washington times., 1925-06-02
Wouldn't 2-Hour Parking Pro-
mote Business in Washington?
Rv BILL PRICE.

By BILL FRlCE'
while we are getting traffic and parking changes in fock
which it will take many many months con!uncnon VIII
previous changes for to become familiar wh why
not have inst ONE change that might promote business in
Washington and at time give reer access 10 the
streets which belong to the publicP
Wv not allow twohour parking in the congested business
..c4ion between the hours of 915 M and 4:1b p m?
~ not siv. our own peoples and many strangers as
e can draw here to trade with our merchants sufficient
time to 90 about their business or personal errands win
ease of mind instead of the constant ear a1 tney nave
overstayed the present onehour limit?
The new parking rules have presumably chased the rtte
clerk or the clerk away from his former
haunts Of aday parking for his fnvvsr Ae now sucks
ail Is and from it to work. he may leave it at home
and help swell Of the street railways by ridng
A. rate the streets in the congested section
nposei to be ideal for traffic. with plenty Of room for
sr0ss @ = o t clock and quits at 4SO o'clock kept
om the conrested section he hoofs it. One hour park
ing does no: g s n tSs s business %Sn 8 ssoon
The wide and beautiful streets Washington, far wider
than those Of other American cities ought to- enable parking
h.rs that viii draw to Washington hundreds of
people who may be going elsewhere 70 90 their
splendid roads leading into the District q OcumDa snOa
within fifty sevenyfive miles Of Washington particularly
during the long days 70 increase ana arouse tne
more successful than knowledge that during the nonrh
hours they would have plenty Of time for trading
matter Of widespread knowledge that most OF Washing
ton begins moving between and o'clock in the morning
and again between 430 $50 in the afternoon These are
he hours when the streets should be free TO rapid and safe
movement of al traffic
At other times Of the day traffic situation win permit of
much longer parking ism perfectly sensible to presume
tat uess would Be encouraged in the center Washing
ton by greater Hbea toward owners OF cars notably to
women who may drive their own machines and may want rea
begin to talk about what the parking regulations
Of other and pattern after the forget that
Washington In class Of their and can ac
eommodae machines either IN motion or parked For the
transaction Of business for pleasure Washington has more
ekraa than auy
sdvntre "a bring strangers here or to make things more
comfortable for our own people?
In Detroit Mich expert of this paper finds the streets
IN the business average less than so feet wide The
streets business section Of Washington will average 80
fest wide probably more comparison between Baltimore
and Washington is about the between Detroit
and Washington.
We pay taxes to maintain these streets the increased
length Of and connections required other
cities as well increased lighting Every Of
car pays part toward that maintenance yet do the
citizens receive the benefit from wide streets they are en-
titled to?
Every traffic parking regulation for the District
should be in the interest Of safety and for the better move
of traffic The fewer regulations the better and
hope the time not far distant when the traffic office
viii its way clear to reduction in the number OF regu
1ations rather than to an increase.
Il is pretty safe to say that not one motorist
hundred knows anything like all the rules and regulations
that now and which being constantly added to-
would take oneyear in traffic school to learn
them all The effect to befog and confuse the average
who wants to abide by all laws but finds that wherever
petty rule The result is that he finally reaches the
don stage and becomes numbered among the
deliberate lawbreakers No regulation law worth much
unless it is supported by public sentiment especially the sen
ment Of lawabidng citizens.
Another deluge of petty regulations is that
they attention time of policemen from the
serious things The average policeman is pretty sensible
sort Of char and it doesn't give him any satisfaction to be
pesernr the public about little things that have no bearing
upon the main objects Of traffic and parking laws and
latons which protection Of lives and property safe and
satisfactory Of traffic and the ability to promptly
transact business.