By Jordana Beebe
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 16, 1997

Selfish 'one car riders:' UA students the cause of Tucson traffic problems

Editor:

This is in response to Chris Jackson's Oct. 11 piece entitled "Hell on Wheels: when commuting turns into a nightmare." Though I am a student at the UA, I also live here year-round, and can state categorically that the traffic problems of which Mr. Jackson lamentably and pathetically bemoans can be attributed to fellow UA students, just like himself. The transportation problem of which he speaks occurs only when school is in session and not during the peace and solitude of the summer months. And why do these problems occur?

It's called lifestyle habits. For instance, if Mr. Jackson were to, say, use his rearview mirror to look in his back seat, instead of at the UA as he sits at a traffic light, he would see that it is empty. Yup, plenty of room back there for three other agro drivers just like himself.

This phenomenon actually has a name. It's called the "One car, one rider" scenario. It means that Mr. Jackson is not utilizing the full capacity of his vehicle; rather, he is wasting 4/5 of it for no apparent reason except to put more, barely-filled cars such as his on the road so that he can write full page editorials about it. Then again, maybe he's just trying to waste natural resources or propagate the international petroleum politics that "[tore] up the desert of Southern Iraq in 1991." So, to Mr. Jackson and those who can identify, I offer two solutions to this "car culture." Try biking.

For Mr. Jackson, it's only a measly seven miles. But then again, if he hasn't "[GROWN] SOME BALLS" to be able to share the road with hostile drivers such as himself commandeering a two ton vehicle, he may wish to contemplate solution number two: carpooling. Because paving more roads isn't going to solve the problem.

Jordana Beebe
B.A. in engineering