Russel Wallace : Alfred Russell Wallace (sic) (S560a: 1899)
Sir,--I am surprised that during recent discussions of this subject no one seems to have suggested a simple measure of effective relief that occurred to me years ago when living in or frequently visiting London. The most serious check to free traffic arises from the use of the same main lines of route, at the same time, for quick and slow-moving vehicles--cabs, carriages and omnibuses on the one hand, wagons, carts and vans on the other. By looking at a map of London we see that parallel to all the great arteries, such as Oxford-street, Holborn, Regent-street, the Strand, &c., there can be marked out alternative routes along almost deserted streets, by which all heavy traffic between the goods stations of the great railways and the warehouses of the City and other business areas might be carried during the busy hours of the day. But there is really no reason why this heavy goods traffic should not be almost wholly carried on in the early morning hours between midnight and eight a.m., when the great traffic routes are almost empty. By these two methods the existing congestion might be almost wholly abolished; and if cheap maps were issued marking two alternative routes, one for going and one for returning, there would result a considerable saving of time for all parties concerned. To facilitate the observance of the rules, every driver of heavy vehicles should be supplied by his employer with a ticket, naming his starting and delivery points, which would enable the police to keep these vehicles out of the main thoroughfares except where absolutely necessary. --Yours, &c., Alfred R. Wallace.
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