Evening star., 1925-08-16

Every man has his own idea of what
constitutes the most serious problem
before the American nation today, but
II Is probable that many people would
agree that the problem of handling
traffic--vehicular and pedestrian--is
the outsta nding one. Today more al
tention Is being paid to this than ever
before in the history of the world.
There are three principal parties at
interest. all eager for some solution.
First, the automobile driver who finds
mat his car is not so useful as IL used
to be because traffic congestion and
traffic regulations detract largely from
the advantage OF expeditions move.
ment which he formerly enjoyed.
He finds that he cannot get from
his home 10 his downtown Office in
hurry, and that he cannot make a
dash to catch u train or hasten 10 his
country club or back home To be in
time for dinner. He finds that his
car is not, az formerly, a means OF
bridging the gap of distance because
he cannot actually go To his destina
ton. When he arrives there. he either
is not permitted by regulations to
park or. II regulations do not forbid
some one else is there ahead of him.
The Motorist Baked.
In consequence he must do what
many business men are doing in cities
all over the count4'N-that is. drive aS
far downtown as possible. park his
car and then take subway, elevated,
surface car, taXicab or his own two
legs al means of continuing the jour
neE. Add to this the cost Of inter
mittent fines for infraCtiOns OF mani.
fold ordinances and regulations. and
il is discovered that the usefulness
e k,a obi 10 hoe flF. Sall n
clined.
The second party AT interest is the
pedestrian. Is il true that there are
more automobiles in the United States
than there are telephones? But even
SO, the number of persons lacking cars
remains in the ma ajority. The pedes-
trian has discovered that the streets
which he helps build and maintain
through heavy taxes are no longer
his. Only at risk of life and limb may
he venture on journey exceeding one
city block in distance. or at most four
blocks if he is, willing 10 travel in a
circuit
He finds that the time required to
get from one place to another has
been doubled and tIipled because of
the distractions presented by automo-
bile traffic. He finds he must carry
more accident insurance to protect his
family or his heirs because OF the en-
hanced risk Of daily life.
Polar Regions Safer Than Streets.
one Of the intrepid explorers who
now are with Comdr. Macmillan on his
polar expedition was questioned
shortly before starting as To whether
he was not appalled, at the dangers
confronting him. lie replied seriously
that he believed he ran u greater risk
daily in the city in which he lived than
any risk he would encounter in the
far North.
The third party at interest is the
ira ffic official, who has as difficult a
Job as any American administration,
lie is pestered on both sides, both by
automobilists and by pedestrian ms. lie
has the task of enabling the motorist
TO obtain relief from traffic congestion
nd the task of safeguarding the lives
of pedestrians. He Is like the two
faced Roman god Janus who looked
both ways. ..- p.
The traffic director has evolved many
schemes. There is the one-way street
scheme which is notably helpful to the
pedestrian because he is fairly well as
sured that he need look out only for
cars coming at him from one direction.
OF course, he must bear in mind the
driver who drives against the traffic
on a ne-way street and is amazed
that other drivers are all going the
wrong way. Such drivers exist, being
close kin to the woman watching the