Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS GROWING
INCREASINGLY MORE COMPLEX
Time Lost by Vehicles Through Congestion
Has Widespread Efect-Remedies
For Situation Are Sought

NAV he One-waY streets that are
needed II may be the segregation Of
trucks and husSes from certain streets
and highways and their assignment to
certain other streets more fitted for
their use by reason of the character
OF buildings sbutting thereon or by rea-
son of the type OF pavement over which
they NAV be required TO travel.
Parking Is by no means a small
problem in itself. The right to move a
vehicle over the highways is generally
conceded to be superior to the right to
store a vehicle on the highways. The
right to stop. load and unload a vehicle
at the curb or at the doorway Is not to
be denied 1t is Just as much an eS-
Sential part of the function OF the
highway as Is the movement OF vehicles
over the highways, Unlimited parking
or storage of vehicles on the highway
however. may become a nuisance. There
is a difference. however. between stop
ping or parking vehicle and the Stor-
ing on & street for an unlimited length
of time.
Parking Problem Not New.
II was as early as 1912 that England
had her parking problem The court
Of that day in certain case made the
statement that every unauthorized OBJ
struction OF highway to the annoy
ance of the kings subjects is nuisance.
The kings highway is not to be used
as a stable yard
Unrestricted parking may In some in
stances work out in manner similar
to class legislation. Special privileges
and Class legislation are abhorrent to the
American mind. Our policies have been
built around the theory of the greatest
good TO the greatest number. Unre-
stricted parking may benefit one indi-
vidual who brings his car downtown in
the morning parks Ii In front OF his
place of business or that of another,
and. what is more to the point, occupy
ing the space which but for his car
might be used by IL or 20 prospective
customers of either his own place Of
business or that of his neighbor dur
ing the business hours OF the day.
Investigations of the length OF time
required TO transact business in various
types OF stores reveal the fact that the
average stopping time In few instances
exceeds one hour and in not more than
per cent of the cases does 1t ex-
coed tvgo hours Therefore wide re-
striction of parking will have the eff
feet of speeding traffic and of making
available greater facilities for business
in congeSted business area.
discussion of the parking situation
would not be complete without few
words about enforcement Law enforce
ment of the laws already on the statute
books gives all regulations Of traffic
movement a bad name. Failure to
enforce rigidlv parking regulations. To
prohibit double parking. or any park
ing in certain areas has the effect OF
increasing the number of individuals
who ere always ready and willing 10
take a chance OF getting ticket.
Such a man may stop his car along
side OF line of cars parked at the
curb, Just long enough to run into a
store and leave a package or make a
flve-mirute purchase but In the mean
time an intolerable traffic jam may
occur. A fire engine or an ambulance
may come down the street and find it
impossible to get through a passage
which would b. available to 1t. ANY
nun Der of contingencies might arise
which would cause a serious inconven-
inece But IL none of the more serious
nature occurs. merely the delay To the
even flow of trsfic Is a result to be dis
couraeed and is consequent upon lax
enforcement