The problems of traffic jams
Monday morning, half past six a.m. I wake up, get ready and leave the house. I must be on time at university.
I go fast to the bus stop. Few minutes later scares me a view of columns of vehicles. I know one, today I will be heavily delayed.
It is a description of the morning, many of us. It has an impact on the organization of the whole of our day.
Traffic jams are the global problem, but authorities and society more and more try to solve this difficulty.
Harmful effects of traffic congestions are delays, first of all. Lots of people spend whole hours to arrive at workplace or school. In big cities the biggest difficulty is for people, who lives on the lateral parts of the city and in the suburbs. What is the worst, often it isn't dependent on us. Wasting time is closely linked to the traffic jams. In the morning we must wake up much earlier than we could and afterwork, rather than go home and rest after hard day, we stuck in the car or on a bus.
What is more, it generates higher costs and air pollution. Fuel consumption increases by an average of 2-3 litres per 100 kilometers. Because of the concentration of a large amount of vehicles in the big cities, in the atmosphere accumulate large amounts of greenhouse gases, which affects the formation of smog harmful to human health.
Main sources of the traffic jam are an excessive amount of cars in cities, poor road system, less efficient public transport.
There appear more and more solutions that can reduce traffic jams.
First of all the best solution is building a bypass around the city, which can eliminate a part of unnecessary vehicles from centres, like trucks etc.
Second option, which has a huge impact on traffic congestion is efficient public transport. Thanks to high efficiency people decide to change cars to public transport, so number of cars in cities could be decrease. For example in Munich have disappeared 100 thousand cars since 2006.
What is more authorities can set prohibitions, like no entry to the cities for big trucks etc.
Furthermore road administration have ability to set regulations about change in the organization of traffic during the rush hours.
That's an example from Moscow, Russia.
Questions for you:
1. Have you ever had any interesting experiences during the way to university? What happened?
2. Do you have any suggestions how to reduce traffic jams in big cities?
It is a description of the morning, many of us. It has an impact on the organization of the whole of our day.
Traffic jams are the global problem, but authorities and society more and more try to solve this difficulty.
Harmful effects of traffic congestions are delays, first of all. Lots of people spend whole hours to arrive at workplace or school. In big cities the biggest difficulty is for people, who lives on the lateral parts of the city and in the suburbs. What is the worst, often it isn't dependent on us. Wasting time is closely linked to the traffic jams. In the morning we must wake up much earlier than we could and afterwork, rather than go home and rest after hard day, we stuck in the car or on a bus.
What is more, it generates higher costs and air pollution. Fuel consumption increases by an average of 2-3 litres per 100 kilometers. Because of the concentration of a large amount of vehicles in the big cities, in the atmosphere accumulate large amounts of greenhouse gases, which affects the formation of smog harmful to human health.
Main sources of the traffic jam are an excessive amount of cars in cities, poor road system, less efficient public transport.
Solutions
There appear more and more solutions that can reduce traffic jams.
First of all the best solution is building a bypass around the city, which can eliminate a part of unnecessary vehicles from centres, like trucks etc.
Second option, which has a huge impact on traffic congestion is efficient public transport. Thanks to high efficiency people decide to change cars to public transport, so number of cars in cities could be decrease. For example in Munich have disappeared 100 thousand cars since 2006.
What is more authorities can set prohibitions, like no entry to the cities for big trucks etc.
Furthermore road administration have ability to set regulations about change in the organization of traffic during the rush hours.
That's an example from Moscow, Russia.
Questions for you:
1. Have you ever had any interesting experiences during the way to university? What happened?
2. Do you have any suggestions how to reduce traffic jams in big cities?
Sources:
http://motoryzacja.interia.pl/wiadomosci/ceny/news/sprawdzony-sposob-na-korki-w-miastach,1955531,339
Photos:
Video:
I haven't had any interesting experiences during the way to university. I prefer driving by train to driving by bus, because a bus always stay in heavy trafic jam. In large city should be lights at a huge crossroads. It's good solutions to reduse traffic jam. I think on this video drivers don't know when they should drive, because this crossroads haven't got lights.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this is count as an interesting experience but trying to get into the subway train at 8 in the morning is pretty challenging. I think that investing in public transport can help reduce traffic jams. More bus routes and bus lanes, could encourage people to choose busses instead cars.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had such emperience because I'm going to university by tram, but I've stucked in traffic jam when I was in Poznan by car and I've seen people who left the bus and went on foot because it would be faster. I think that public transport is the most responsible way to reduce traffic jams, but I've also heard that in London if you want to go by car to city centre you must pay. I think it's interesting idea but little controversial.
ReplyDeleteTraffic jams are well-known for me due to the fact that I commute from the suburbs to the city every day. It makes me tired because I lost my time when I could do something useful. In Warsaw the huge problem is bus passes - in big city like Warsaw there are not enough. Moreover the lights. If you stop on ten lights across 10 km road, you will be in a traffic jam ! Something solutions aren't clever because the fact that people who plan traffic signs never drive on this road !
ReplyDeleteAs guys above me I haven't experienced any interesting adventures during the way to university. Of course, I've experienced traffic jams, because it is normal situation on the road in Warsaw.
ReplyDeleteI think the best solution to reduce traffic jams it is one mention in the article- to make people to change their cars to public transport. However, all changes connected with trying to change people's life style are really hard to realise.
I think that I will not surprise anybody if I say that I don't have any interesting experience of adventures during the way to the university. But there is some problem for me, I'm not very happy that I спент average 1,5 hour in public transport per day. I try to find different tricks which help me not to boring in the transport - reading books, learning new English words :)
ReplyDeleteI think that Warsaw is on the way to become a city with good public transport system - bus passes joined with trams passes, transport go on schedule, in the next year Warsaw will have the second line of metro ;)
But I think there is a problem with private transport and sometimes I see huge traffic jams, especially in such parts of city where is many buildings with offices. But there is many cities which are good examples of great transport system. First of all here is should be people which would be interested in changing of appearence of city. And secondly, this is a question of responsibility of everyone. For example, if you know that there is a good public transport connection, may be you can leave your car at garage and go to work by bus few time a week.
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ReplyDeleteAs car industry advances, no one can be surprised with increasing amount of cars. This mean of transport is convenient, you aren’t dependent on public transport and you can go wherever you want. So, traffic jams are natural consequence of that. Of course, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have to find any solution for this problem. In my opinion, building new bypasses or improving bus-tram communication system with appropriate parking space nearby can be one of possible answer for question ‘what do we have to/should do?’. It is impossible not to allow big trucks go inside the town because they are one kind of sources of supply. However, why not to limit the hours of entry to/exit of the city?
ReplyDeleteI had once a situation that I felt uncomfortable because in fact, I've caused a traffic jam. Maybe not so huge like in the city centre of Warsaw but I felt completely lost and I didn’t know what to do. I was trying to remove my brother’s car from a road but to do that, first, I had to change the position of the car of 180 degree and suddenly, when I was in the middle of the road, at right angles to the travel direction, the car stopped. In fact, it didn’t stop completely. The engine was working but car didn’t want to go to any direction, neither forward nor backward. The road was narrow, so I blocked both lanes and drivers had to wait for my move. My brother didn’t tell me that this car was from the seventies and it had automatic transmission... In fact, I knew about that, but I had no idea that this connection: old car + automatic = problems on the road. Those car sometimes just can’t switch the gear and that happened to me. Fortunately, after few minutes, the car decided to cooperate with me and I could drive safely to the parking space.
Honestly, I don’t remember if I’ve had any interesting experiences during the way to university. Almost every day I'm stucking in a traffic jam, but it seems to me normal due to the fact that Warsaw is a large city. Then I always listen to music or read a book.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to reducing traffic jams I think that the best solution is to change own car for public transport or other way of transport for example bike. I think people are too comfortable and go everywhere by car even if a place is near their home. In my opinion the good idea is also solution which is in the presentation about changing the organization of traffic during the rush hour.
I also don't remember if I've had any interesting experiences during the way to university. I prefer driving by train, because I can sometimes avoid a traffic jam, but when some other train breaks down, everything turns upside down. You have to get used to standing on the train station 20-30 minutes longer, especially in winter. I thing that good ideas is Park & Ride. People come by car for example to train station, park theirs cars on the secure parking and ride to work or school by train or another public transport.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, prices of public transport are increasing in each year, at the same time less and less bus lines are working. We should not be confused than more and more people choosing their own car to get to work or school. It is a short way to huge problem with traffic jams. I totally agree with gays above me. Only way to avoid or just minimalize tailbacks is development of public transport. I think that another good options, especially in spring or summer are city bikes or motorbikes. Both of them are friendly for environment and what is probably more important it gives a lot of satisfaction when everyone else has to wait in traffic jam and there is always enough space for you to ride.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I'd like to say that I totally agree with author of this presentation. Every day I struggle with huge traffic jam during my "university trip". Some days I think wonder why it happens to me but then I realise I'm not the only one who suffer. My everyday way to university is just an another ordinary trip with loads of wasted time in a traffic jam. Nothing interesting besides frustrated people. I think that making restrictions and seting some benefits for people who travel by public transport might be effective, but the best option for me would be changing your way of transport to a bike or motorbike. These vehicles are really usefull in big cities because you are able to ride between cars and park almost everywhere. Also a bike keeps you fit which is a bit pro due to sedentary lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI have some experinence during the way to university. But this experience aren't intriesting. My major problem is trains are always late. I don't know how early I should get up to be on time on the university.
ReplyDeleteAbout trafic jams I think that the best way to reduce them is to made public transport free and improve quality. And in the same time we should introduce paymant for enter to the city center.
Well, I think I haven't had any interesting experiences during the way to university. All my "travels" were boring in an overcrowded bus orsubway. Traffic jams could be less if tickets for buses would be cheaper. More people would rather to travel by bus if it wasn't so expensive as nowadays in Warsaw
ReplyDeleteI'm struggle with traffic jams almost every day,especially on my way to university.I can't remember any interesting story connencted with it.I spend lots of time in public transport so I usually try to listen my favourite music or read some interesting articles. In my opinion the most important problem of public transport in Warsaw are considerable delays,which lead to disappointment and overcrowded,particularly in trains.due to people choose their cars which cause huge traffic jams.If public transport was on time,people would resign from their cars,which reduce traffic jams.
ReplyDeleteI usually take tram and walk a bit to the University Campus. I don't go there in rush hours, so trafic james don't bother me and I always sit comfortable for entire trip. I won't complain.
ReplyDeleteSomething funny happened to me 2 years ago while being on my way to school. It was the time of matura exams ( I was in the 2nd grade back then). The way to school was horrible. It was raining and the road was crowded with cars. My friend, who is 1 year older than me, couldn't wait any longer because his exam was supposed to start in 20 minutes. So, he run out of the bus and started running towards school. And here comes the funniest part....h e was 5 minutes late so he couldn't take that exam :D
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion to reduce the traffic jams? When you have a possibility to use public transport or bike - do it! Leave your car at home.
Unfortunetaly I haven't got driving licence and it's difficoult for me to says something interesting about my experience in traffic jams. In economical point of view solutions which author of this text gives are very naive. Create bypass, or make public transport more efficient? That sounds like solution for hungry people in Africa - let's give them food! For making such big industrial venture cities should have billions of dolars. Easy to say and very difficoult to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with author of the text. So in the morning I wake up much earlier than I could and I don't have to spend too much time on the bus. Because before 7 a.m. there is no trafiic jams. But when I get up later I will miss on my classes. I don't have any interesting experiences during the way to university. But when I was in the secondary school I travel by train so I have many interesting experiences with this:) Me and my friends travelled by train to school in the winter. Suddenly the train stopped. Anybody knew what happened. Then we found that our train was frozen! It was really strange because the air temperature wasn't low. Of course we spent in the train three hours. It was horrible.
ReplyDeleteI think people should more use of public transport. Then on the road will be less cars. Nowadays popular is healthy lifestyle. People do sports, go to a gym. But I think it is waste of money. Instead of going to a gym people should ride bicycle everywhere. They should drive by car if they have to overcome long distance. I also agree with author of the text that the best solution is building a bypass around the city, which can eliminate a part of unnecessary vehicles from centres.
So I remember the story which happened even yesterday. However it was the trip to my family house, not to the university. I was waiting for the bus which at the end was delayed so I didn't catch the bus to ma native town. It was really annoying because of the fact that I had a ticket.
ReplyDeleteAs for way to reduce traffic jams in the cities, I think that fantastic idea is a free communication in some cities, even in Poland it is introduced but in a small degree. Moreover, more financial means should be allocated on technical infrastructure of buses, trams and trains. Good condition of these vehicles is so important. Besides, more bypasses, bridges and tunnels certainly would reduce the crowd.
I can't really remember having any interesting experiences or accidents on my way to the university lately. Usually I start the day at work and arrive at the uni in the afternoon, so I miraculously manage to avoid almost all of the trafiic jams. I also rely mostly on trams and subway as I think these two are the most convenient means of transport.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to ideas how to help reduce traffic jams I think about raising common awareness of the impact of public transport in reducing CO2 emission and environment protection. But there's no way it can happen without the officials taking serious action on reducing ticket prices, mostly for residents and tourists. The idea of public transport being free from charges is brilliant, but in my opinion it's not the best solution for now, when we should and need to invest in technically advanced and more environment-friendly means of public transport.
I have never had any interesting experience during the way to the university but that is probably because I live nearby and I am always in hurry and at the same time I am focused only on getting to class and sometimes I may not recognize friends that pass me by.
ReplyDeleteI think that an interesting way of reducing traffic jams in big cities is reducing the number of cars by driving to work with neighbours or friends because you can use one car instead of four or using public transport that should be developed in way that will make using cars unprofitable.
There was a day when I wanted to go on an adventure and so I decided to make a bus trip. To my surprise there was no bus coming to the bus stop. I waited for an hour and frustrated decided to check the timetable on my phone and found out there won`t be any bus. Because I felt adventurous that day I didn`t hesitate even a while and start proudly march towards another and another bus stop. Eventually I discover what`s the matter, at the terminus instead of some buses there was .... en evil worm destroying everything around him.
ReplyDeleteIt was an amazing day - full of emotions and unreapetable moments. Luckily I haven`t got eaten and nowadays, stucked in a bus every drab day I always remind myself about that extraordinary, unique day and smile to myself. I actually expirienced something!
And when it comes to the solution for endless traffic jams - maybe we should start using spaceships to commute more effectively :)
I don't have any interesting experience with traffic jams, but with access by train from my city to Warsaw so. Last winter I had the unpleasant opportunity to ride the train that hit the car, in addition, a few minutes after I got into it. As it turned out, the car was driven by a woman and it went out at a railroad crossing. She couldn't start it again so she left it and ran away. As a result no one was hurt. However, passengers on the train had to jump out of it into snowdrifts and go a few hundred meters to change to the another train. I would add that it was about six a.m. The event caused the hundreds of people, who were going on the train, arrived to work or school with a very long delay, including me. I think this situation is an interesting event in my life, but it also caused that I was a little stressed when I traveled by train later.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when it comes to traffic jams in big cities, I also think that the best solution to this problem is to change driving by cars to use public transport. In addition, very important are bus lanes, as someone already mentioned earlier, because they really speed up the bus ride.
I live in the suburbs but I never had a problem riding to the university. Near my house is a train station with SKM trains. If I was driving car it would take me 1.5 hour to get to the university. The train ride takes less than half an hour. It seems to me that the railways (including the metro) is the best way to get around the city. It would be best if the city improved and expanded subway. And maybe close some smaller streets so cars will be only on the biggest streets.
ReplyDelete