CROWDED SYDNEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 15

CROWDED SYDNEY.

THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM. (Fbou Odb Own Cobuksfonuicnt.) SYDNEY, June S. One of the biggest problems in Sydney to-day—and it is becoming more difficult every day—is that of effectively controlling the traffic which surges through the city’s congested streets. It is only after the theatre at night that silence steals upon this old, crowded city. And then it is a lull only for a few hours. Almost with (he break of day there is once more the Iramp of feet, the throb and rush of early trarjis, and in an hour or two. when tno metropolis has rubbed the sleep out of its eyes, the traffic swells and rolls fullvolumed down the narrow streets. Almost countless suggestions which have come before a big conference which has met to deal with the problem, are to bo codified by a committee. It has been suggested that a Traffic Board appointed by (he Government should take over full control of the city traffic; but until the City Council adopts recent recommendations for widening certain streets and opening up new traffic outlets it is difficult to see how the position can be effectively met. The tremble is, it is likely to be a deal worse in a few years. It is reckoned, for instance. that within a year 8000 more motor cars will be struggling for space in Sydney’s narrow streets, and that -within another two years the number of cars in the streets will have doubled itself. And before many years the city railway will be pouring countless thousands of people into nil parts of the city at every hour of the day. Jay-walkers—pedestrians who cross the crowded streets at any angle and at anv point—add to the difficulty, by interfering with vehicular traffic. Jay-walking, as seen in Sydney to-day, is said to bo almost unknown in cities abroad. Again, motor cars seem to be allowed to stand in the streets, when and where they like, for hours at a stretch. The tram traffic also accentuates the problem. In the last 20 years the number of passengers carried annually on Sydney’s trams has increased from 92,363,000 to 316,868,984, which was the actual number transported last year alone. The George street line alone serves 29 populous districts: and the Elizabeth street line 26 big districts. Although Sydney’s population is just over a million, it is calculated by experts that approximately 1,250,000 trips are, reckoning the return journeys, made on tho trains, (rams, and ’buses every day.