Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past thirty years that in many cities around the world there are constant traffic jams. How true do you think this statement is? What measures can governments take to discourage people from owning cars?

It has become increasingly common in recent years for

cities

to be inundated with cars and,

consequently

, increased levels of

traffic

. In my opinion,

this

is a very real phenomenon and governments could do more to encourage other modes of transport. There is little doubt that the main cause of

traffic

is more cars in urban areas. One natural consequence of a burgeoning global middle class is a rise in automobile ownership.

This

is reflected not only in statistics but

also

in the day-to-day reality of millions living in densely populated

cities

such

as Los Angeles, Beijing, and London. The average person living in those

cities

must choose between sitting in

traffic

, using public transport, or residing near their workplace. There is little chance

this

pattern will change in the future as many people see owning a car as a sign of social status and a mark of success in life generally. Since most car owners will not be dissuaded by higher prices, the best method to combat

traffic

is to stimulate other kinds of transportation. Since most

cities

already possess public transportation in the form of buses and subways, governments can simply commit to maintaining and expanding existing options. A standout example of

this

would be the London Underground which has dozens of lines and is maintained to a high standard. Another pragmatic solution would be to encourage the use of bikes and motorbikes. Many European countries do

this

by providing free bicycles for short rides. In Southeast Asian countries

such

as Vietnam, urban planners provide lanes specifically for compact motorbikes where there is far less

traffic

than in the lanes for bulky cars. In conclusion, there is clear evidence that

cities

are more crowded than ever before and the state can curb

this

trend by enacting policies to promote bicycles and motorbikes in

cities

.

This

is a crucial reform not only for the quality of life but

also

for the environmental impact.