Cars fit multiple people … so share!
The most disturbing aspect of your “Hell on Wheels” story (Sept. 19 cover story) was not found in all the graphs, charts, etc. The thing that disturbed me most, and disturbs me when I do drive on any of the local tollways, is what can be clearly seen in your photo on Pages 8-9: The fact that each car, truck, SUV, etc., contains one person — the driver.
I see this on the roads, and it seems such a horrible waste on our time management, money management for fuel, resources, let alone the effect on the environment. Many of these people are probably driving to the same suburb for their job, the same office complex, and sometimes the same building.
Corporations, both in the city and suburbs, need to give their employees an incentive to use Metra, the “L,” and Pace to get people to a common point, and then have a company-operated “shuttle system,” using vans owned by the company to bring their employees to work.
It just angers me that everyone thinks that their car is somehow the best way to get to work each day, instead of looking at the alternatives for daily transportation and saving their cars for weekend trips to the city/suburbs and personal convenience. Day-to-day driving to the same place at the same time five days a week with each of us in our own personal car alone is an absolute waste.
Brian Cox, 36, Logan Square
Trapped at the intersection
The most puzzling thing concerning Chicago traffic gridlock is the abundance of intersections with no traffic sensors. There are a plethora of streets that have little to no traffic, and when these streets intersect with those that are more traveled, the results are frustrating and perplexing.
The intersections in the suburbs, from the most affluent to the poorest, have traffic flow sensors. Yet our “world-class” city refuses to invest in them.
For those who would argue that pedestrian walk time would be impeded by sensors, I submit that most systems do incorporate “walk” signals.
Isaac Taylor, 35, Beverly
Commuter pickle
So you can’t drive or take public transportation in the city? Great work, Chicago.
Mike Moreci, 27, Edgewater
CTA key to solving traffic delays
I would just like to say that it almost seems like there is no possible solution to the travel problems in Chicago. The population in Chicago is constantly growing. I honestly feel that CTA has a big part in this. I think more people would take the train if it was not so inconsistent, overcrowded and dirty. A good start to cleaning up Chicago travel delays is by solving the CTA’s problems.
Tom Cradick, 21, Jefferson Park
Ultimate fighting safer than its reputation
[Mixed martial arts], though sometimes stunning in the quickness and finality of its moves, is in fact far less brutal than boxing, or even football (“Ultimate Brawlers,” Sept. 18 cover story). The average fighter in an MMA fight will take far less blows to the head than a boxer will. The injury rate is much less than in the NFL, where numerous retired players are showing severe brain damage. As with any competitive sport there is a risk of injury involved; however, the competitors are all well aware of this risk, and the organizations take all possible steps to minimize this risk. I look forward to the legalization and diligent regulation of MMA events in Illinois.Sean Flynn, 29, Edgewater
Baby pressure
I wanted to respond to your article about wedding pressure (“Here’s how I deal with marriage pressure,” Sept. 14 column by Kyra Kyles). The pressure I’m dealing with is not necessarily wedding pressure — it’s more like child pressure. My mother asks me all the time when I am going to give her some grandbabies. I’m like, “when I can afford to feed one.” She’s so used to inner-city life where teen pregnancy is prevalent, it’s crazy. She hasn’t asked me lately, thank God.
Kerrhon Kelso, 24, Lincoln Park
