Sir, - "Car sharing is the quick, cheap answer" to Dublin's traffic problem, according to Conor Lawlor's letter (November 12th). If only he knew how difficult it is to arrange for people to organise themselves to ride to work together!
Car pooling is greatly encouraged in California, and particularly by my employer. I've tried car pooling with another employee who lives in the same apartment complex as I do, but even this dream scenario doesn't work out all the time. Different work hours, or the need to use the car after work, often mean that we don't ride together. I've tried car pooling with my wife, who works on the same street as I do, but even that is not a five day a week arrangement.
The real problem I see in Mr. Lawlor's proposition is his suggestion of a flying squadron of privately financed traffic police swooping down on the unsuspecting solo driving public, pulling people from their vehicles and demanding a tenner on the spot. Would this practice be limited to rush hour, or would the "no go solo" law apply 24 hours a day? Assuming the former, the sheer chaos caused by these burly enforcers, pulling people off the road and demanding their tenner, would surely cause as much of a backup as is presently there.
Even over here in America, things have not got to the point where driving alone has been out lawed. Perhaps Mr. Lawlor could refine his idea a little, if only to allow the citizens of Dublin the simple luxury of singing along to the radio at full volume without anyone hearing. - Yours, etc,
Palo Alto, California.