The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-03-27
City on Right Track in
Handling Automobile Tide,
Authorities BeIieve-One-
Way Plan Relieves Con-
gestion, They Say.

In the spring the motorists fancy
turns to thoughts of getting out the
old bus and giving her the gas.
This prevailing sentiment, extend
ing from coast to coast and Canada
to the Gulf, puts gray hairs in boards
of safety, police officers and traffic
experts throughout the land trying
to cope with the problem Of handling
all the automobiles that are seized
with wild desires to use the streets
at the same time.
But here In Indianapolis city Of
hcials believe they are in a better
position to handle traffic than ever
before. After long and sometimes nit
ter experiences they believe they are
on the right track at last.
Radical changes in traffic regula-
ton have been made in the past
few months, and for the time being
at least no more important changes
are contemplated, according to mem
bers of the board of safety and
Mayor Shank.
Chef among the changes have
been establishment Of one-way traf-
f1c for Meridian ST.. New York to
Thirty Els III SITS, from to- 8 a..
m. and from 4:3O to $40 p. m. and
illumination of the traffic tower sys.
s2Am in Washington st.
: Making Meridian st. one-way
street in rush hours has facilitated
the clearing of traffic greatly, Off
Gals say. This also has been the
effect Of abolition of the traffic
towers in Washington ST., and re-
turn to the old system Of semaphore
control at each corner.
An innovation which is expected to
further clarity the Meridian St. stu
alton will be the installation of silent
policemen. operating in unison, at
every corner from New York to st.
Clair SITS. This will be done as soon
as the mechanism is completed.
Widening of Illinois st. to Six
tenth st. to permit establishment
OF safety zones for street car pas
sengers, thus permitting automobiles
to pass street cars, also has been of
material assistance in clearing traf-
fic.
After trying out all kinds of traffic
control devices, the board of safety
has come down to three general
types. Hand controlled signals for
the heart of the downtown district;
silent policemen In the center of
streets where there are no car lines
and the four-corner type at corners
where there are car lines.
abandoned except in special cases,
because OF the tendency of motor
lists to pass under them without see
ing them.
Police trafficmen differ somewhat
on the effects of removal of the
downtown traffic towers.
-. Some pointed out that during the
ay when the traffic Is light the
flowers hindered the men In speed
ing up the traffic, but during the
rush hours the towers were a help
in keeping uniform movement of
traffic.
Street cars turning out and into
Washington st. caused the most
trouble during the tower system,
officers said. In turning the corners
other lanes of traffic would momen.
tairly be stopped and congestion re-
suited.
Inspector Of Traffic Michael Glenn
started work today on plans to cope
with the heavier spring traffic.
April corner men will be sta
toned at Pennsylvania and Wash
ington SITS, Washington and Me
ridian SITS, Illinois and Washington
SITS and Pennsylvania and Ohio SITS.
at night.
Traffic at Illinois and Ohio SITS
does not warrant the placing a man
at the intersection, while at Me-
ridian and Ohio SITS. a silent po-
licemen" regulates traffic, Glenn said
In sketching his plans.
Team of motorcycle policemen will
be assigned so downtown district to
check parked car Of "gawkers," as
the persons who sit in their cars all
evening and watch the crowds go by,
are termed The "gawker" is one
OF the major contributors to con-
gested traffic. Glenn said While
other motorists are driving their
autos about waiting 20 find park
Ing space the "gawkef" sits in his
car for hours, taking up valuable
Apace.
With the opening of the city
. parks motorcycle men will be as
signed to regulate the traffic, and
enforce parking regulations.
Glenn said that a uniform speed
must be observed by motorists while
driving on "one-way" streets. White
lines will be painted in the center of
the streets and slow-moving We
hicles will be required to keep to
the right Of the line. Maximum
speed of twenty-five miles an hour
will be allowed. Glenn said. Paint.
ers are getting their equipment
ready to mark preferential streets
and traffic lanes In downtown dis