Spinning Wheels on Traffic

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From the viewpoint of a motorist, the intuitive solution to L.A.’s horrible traffic problems is to somehow clear and speed up traffic impeding a driver’s way. That might explain why drivers, such as Ted Lux in his op-ed in the April 21 issue (“Trafficking in Congestion”) continue to propose such “solutions” as increasing the number of one-way streets, sequencing green lights and the like. We’ve tried these kinds of solutions, and we somehow end up with even worse traffic problems than before. Every successful effort to speed traffic flow just encourages people to drive more. And traffic keeps getting worse.

In contrast to the strategies that have failed us for decades, we need to consider some counterintuitive strategies that have actually been shown to work. Instead of widening the streets, how about narrowing the streets? When we narrow the streets, as the city has already begun doing with some routes that are being restriped for bike lanes, fewer automobile drivers choose those routes and traffic moves just as fast.

Here are some other solutions that have been proved in city after city to work to reduce traffic: increase taxes on gas; increase the amount of street parking; build more bus- and bikeways, and streetcars; institute tolls to enter congested areas; encourage construction of housing close to public transportation. These are proven solutions that encourage people to drive less and thereby reduce traffic.


‘Negative externalities’

But let’s say I’m wrong and we could increase the speed of traffic by making more one-way streets. We would still have to consider the costs – what economists call the “negative externalities” – imposed by that “solution.” If we could turn our already broad and busy boulevards into five- or six-lane one-way speedways, where masses of cars move at 40 or 50 miles an hour, what would that do for the quality of life of the people who have to live and work on those boulevards? A restaurant owner might think twice about opening a sidewalk café on a street like that. Pedestrians would not find those sidewalks pleasant for strolling; crossing those streets would be dangerous. Bicyclists would want to avoid those unsafe thoroughfares. People who live in the houses and apartments overlooking these streets would not even want to open the windows due to the noise and pollution. Nobody wants to live next to a freeway, or a boulevard that has all the attributes of a freeway. So, to increase the convenience of motorists, we would have to accept a reduction in property values and quality of life for everyone who lives along these routes.

Even motorists do not like one-way streets much. I have worked in downtown Los Angeles for more than 20 years. Downtown is a mecca of one-way streets and red curbs, all instituted in a vain effort to make traffic flow better. And everyone unfamiliar with downtown who makes an appointment to visit my office complains about these restrictions. People hate circling the confusing layout of one-way streets to find their way.

We need to move away from the shortsighted solutions to traffic problems proposed by motorists. The more we try to encourage the flow of cars, the more cars choke the life out of our city. Instead, we should start thinking about ways to reduce the number of cars that are causing so much traffic, and thereby make the city a more enjoyable place to live and move around in, for everyone.

Joe Markowitz is a lawyer and mediator who also is president of the Southern California Mediation Association. He works in downtown Los Angeles.

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