The Problems Caused by Transport in Cities Around the World - Research Paper Example

Transportation is causing an increase number of problem in cities around the world? What these problem and how can they be reduced? The prevalence of the use of motor vehicles may have made transportation faster and convenient for us but it also created a number of problems in cities around the world. The most obvious problem that motor vehicles have created is pollution and health hazard. We are all aware that the carbon emission of transportation vehicles is increasingly growing and continues to contribute to the pressing problem of climate change.

In addition to air pollution, the noise pollution of vehicles also assault our senses and worst, these pollutions “causes illness and deaths” among us (Sheehan 141). Indeed, the pollutions and health problems caused by pollutions needs to addressed immediately before it is too late. We can no longer ignore the symptoms of the problem that pollution is causing us. Climate change made storms fiercer causing numerous deaths and destruction of properties. The deaths associated with pollution are also increasing.

O’Toole suggested two ways on how to reduce the problem of transportation in cities around the world. He proposed an expensive solution and a low cost solution. The expensive solution is to build more highways which could be costly not only in terms of constructing it, but also cannot be optimized during off hours. In addition, the construction of those highways takes years to finish not to mention that it also creates unbearable traffic during its construction. The other less costly solution is “to encourage a few of the people who want to drive during those peak minutes to travel during a different part of the day” (O’Toole).

The best way to do this is to charge a toll during peak hours and if charges already exist, make it higher so that people will be discouraged to use the roads during peak hours. This would discourage motorists to use the road during peak hours unless it is absolutely necessary. This solution has many advantages. One is this will decongest the roads because unnecessary travels can instead be move to off hours to avoid the toll or do car pooling to minimize the cost in toll fees. Second, it will lessen carbon emission in the atmosphere hence lessening the pollution that contributed to carbon change and our deteriorating health.

This has already been done in other industries such as hotels and airlines where airline companies and hotel operators charge more during peak season and offer discounts during off season. It worked on these industries so it should also work in addressing the problems caused by transport. Works Cited Molly O’Meara Sheehan (nd). Making Better Transportation Choices. Worldwatch Institute Randal O’Toole. “Solving the Problem of Traffic Congestion”. October 08, 2012. http://www.ncpa.

org/pub/ba773. Accessed: 4/2/2013