End of the Road: The World Car Crisis and How We Can Solve It

A researcher for the Paris-based nonprofit institute EcoPlan International here examines ways to decrease pollution caused by excessive dependence on automobiles. Urging that we support other forms of transit, the author offers a plan for redesigning the world's transportation systems--and the layouts of cities and suburbs--to encourage reliance on buses, trains, trams and nonmotorized transport. Other proposed solutions include developing automobiles less damaging to the environment and raising consciousness on this issue through education. While Zuckerman's brief is compelling and many of his suggestions worthy, his call for national and even global social reorganization requires considerably more government intervention than seems plausible. His ideas might have been better presented in a concise magazine article. Illustrations not seen by PW . ( Dec. )