Evening star., 1934-03-08

To the Ed'tor OF The star:
Much Is being said about the un-
satisfactory street car service OF
Washington, and under pressure OF
self-interest, public opinion and the
Public Utilities Commission. the new
company doubtless will effect many
desirable improvements.
The company, however. cannot
safely accomplish the desired improve
ment in speed-that is, shorten sched-
ules-without the cooperation of the
rest of US. I write only with respect
to the Fourteenth street and the
Pennsylvania avenue operations.
have no personal knowledge as to any
others.
Bad weather increases inherent op-
Grating dificulties-vision, accelera-
ton and braking-but these are tech
nical problems for the transit organ
ization. This letter has application
to the broader situation.
In bad weather many who ordinar-
lily use their own cars turn to the
street railways for transportation. The
cars I'LL rapidly during the first por-
ton of their runs, and the greater
number of people consume more than
the usual time at stops. Crowded cars
prevent those who get on later from
boarding promptly. The difficulty Is
increased by failure or refusal of those
inside promptly to move forward to
make room for others, although in
most instances there Is room for sew
eral persons in the forward end of
even the more crowded cars which is
not utilized at all. Those behind cam
not reach this space without incur
ring maledictions, If at all.
Patrons at stops are slow, too. in
deciding whether to get onto a crowd
ed car or wait for another, thus de-
laying the standing car and possibly
one or more following.
Then there are the private automo-
biles, which, in addition to CONNER
cial vehicles and taxicabs, find it nee
essary to drive on Fourteenth street
during rush hours, instead Of using
Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth
streets. The number Of these cars is
surprising. They add to the conges-
ton and interfere with street-car pa
irons attempting to get from side
walks to loading platforms. The
drivers of these cars seem always to
include one or two ahead Of each
street car who drive so close to the
track that when they are stopped by
trafnc the street car cannot get to the
loading zone in time to take advan-
tage OF the next green light or Its
equivalent.
Similar to this source Of delay to
street-car tranic is the making OF
~ turns" between street cars by tax
icabs, which cannot clear the track
because of densely flowing trafic, and
hold the traction cars until q belated
opening appears. The weaver" or
driver who tries to run around pre-
ceding automobiles by cutting in
ahead Of a street car without warn
ing, is both q menace and fruitful
source Of delay. Motormen invari-
ably shut of power and apply brakes
at the first intimation Of such a
move, and not infrequently 1t is well
for the offender that they do!
Motorists approaching at street in
tersections as though they intend to
cross ahead Of q street car, while
actually they expect to wait, delay
both the car and themselves. for the
motormen take no chances under
these circumstances and attempt to
stop, with resultant loss of time.
Pedestrians, too. sometimes delay
street cars unnecessarily. Afraid to
take chances with taxicabs and other
automobiles, they proceed with small
regard for street cars, not tnfre-
quently saumtering across the tracks
when they might without inconven-
ience clear promptly. They, too. show
implicit confidence In the motormen.