Traffic congestion is a major problem in cities nowadays and it is assumed by some that the only solution is limiting the need for people to travel for work, shopping and educational activities. This essay will discuss both opinions and explain why I believe that reducing travel is not the most effective approach.
On the one hand, decreasing the necessity to travel for essential daily activities is seen as a key solution to traffic problems. To clarify, online shopping or education can significantly diminish the number of cars on roads, especially during peak hours. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, cities experienced noticeably lower traffic levels due to remote working and education. In addition, providing more local services allows residents reduce the number of trips. The existence of malls and educational institutions nearby, may lead to fewer trips for daily needs. Therefore, decreasing the need to travel for everyday necessities is a common method.
On the other hand, minimizing daily travel is not an effective solution and cannot fully solve this problem. In other words, traffic congestion depends not only on the number of trips but also on road capacity and public transport efficiency, so improving urban infrastructure is far more crucial. For instance, cities that have focused on urban planning and better traffic management have seen a notable decrease in congestion. Additionally, despite the efforts are made to reduce the need for travel, such as remote work or local services, traffic congestion cannot be eliminated because of increasing urban population and rising vehicle ownership. Thus, reducing daily travel is not effective, improvements in infrastructure and transport systems are essential.
In conclusion, although some people believe that reducing the need to travel can ease traffic congestion, I think this is not enough. Other factors, such as growing urban population and limited infrastructure require significant investment.