Excessive use of personal cars in cities causes serious problems such as traffic jams and environmental pollution. These problems negatively affect the quality of life and sustainability of cities. They need active measures of both government and citizens.
One of the main problems is traffic jams. Daily use of cars for commuting overloads roads, increases travel time and decreases labor productivity. Therefore this leads to significant losses of time that cold spend on work or rest, and also reduces overall productivity, since employees lose strength and motivation before the start of the work day. For instance, in my own city, due to traffic congestion, the travel time along one of the main highways often rises from 30 minutes to 2-3 hours.
Moreover, another important problem is the environmental damage caused by the widespread use of personal cars. Burning fuel in cars releases harmful substances into the air, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which contribute to global warming and respiratory diseases, creating a critical risk to the people’s health.
To solve these problems, the government can take a number of measures aimed at reducing the use of personal vehicles. One of these solutions is the development of convenient and affordable public transport systems. For example, in my city it is possible to shorten the intervals between buses, open new routes and provide convenient transfers with covered crossings, especially in the rain and in winter. Furthermore, clean transportation and discounted travel passes during peak hours could encourage people to refuse their cars. The government should also invest in cycling infrastructure and the creation of pedestrian zones.
In conclusion, dependence of personal cars in cities causes significant problems such as traffic jams and environmental pollution. To solve these problems it is necessary to develop public transport and cycling infrastructure, as well as support environmentally friendly modes of transport.