This week was the first time I have seen the phrase "anti-car war" in the media.
Serge Schmemann's excellent column in the New York Times, describing the efforts of the Socialist mayor of Paris to restructure the transportation system in Paris. Another "leftist" mayor, Ken Livingston of London, England, is doing the same thing.
Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has taken the bold and smart move of decreasing the number of lanes available for cars, and allocating an entire lane just for buses, bikes and taxis. The lane is separated by a granite divider so cars can't cheat. The Parisians are also using technology, so that every bus stop now has a screen saying when the next bus will arrive.
What is new here is the outright declaration of war on cars. Mass transit has moved, at least in these two major cities, from being a supplement to autos to replacing autos. We hope they win the anti-car war. What do you think? Is it too early, or just plain wrong, to declare war on cars?