Socialists start anti-car war

This week was the first time I have seen the phrase "anti-car war" in the media.

Serge Schmemann's excellent column in the New York Times, describing the efforts of the Socialist mayor of Paris to restructure the transportation system in Paris.  Another "leftist" mayor, Ken Livingston of London, England, is doing the same thing.

Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has taken the bold and smart move of decreasing the number of lanes available for cars, and allocating an entire lane just for buses, bikes and taxis.  The lane is separated by a granite divider so cars can't cheat. The Parisians are also using technology, so that every bus stop now has a screen saying when the next bus will arrive.
What is new here is the outright declaration of war on cars.  Mass transit has moved, at least in these two major cities, from being a supplement to autos to replacing autos.  We hope they win the anti-car war.  What do you think? Is it too early, or just plain wrong, to declare war on cars?

Comments

[Stephen Downes]

I think we should reduce our dependence on cars and increase public transportation.

I would not call that a 'war' and I am suspicious of the motives of someone who characterizes a sound economic and environmental policy as a 'war'.

[Terry Newman]

Last Monday I took a 250 mile drive northeast to Lake Tahoe for vacation. One of my daughters drove 150 miles, the other about 350 miles in order to meet up with me. On Saturday, I drove 140 miles south to meet up with friends for a weekend get together. Without my car, I wouldn't be able to leave town or it would take me days to get where I drove in a few hours. I'm not sure I want to wage total war on cars at this point.

[Stephen Marriott]

War on Cars. I think the car thing has gotten way out of hand . Why on earth would a family of five in a relatively small suburb with great public transportation need five cars? Why do people drive to a city when they could take public trans. and not stress about traffic? I don't get it. I like the French mayor's idea for in town traffic, and leave rural highways as they are.