Search

Discusses the increase of automobile traffic in the United States and the growth and development of pay-as-you-go roads, or fastlane highways that charge drivers a variable toll in exchange for a quicker commute. Reports that state and federal deficits are hampering the government's ability to service the U.S. highway system and that many states have passed legislation allowing the private sector to build and run new roads; Review of the Administration of President George W. Bush's aim to allow states to charge user fees for any stretch of interstate highway; Comment on the cultural shift involved in changing from free to pay roadways.

A COUPLE of years ago, a well-intentioned friend, hearing me describe the horrors of my commute in Paris, said I should decide when I wanted to see my son each day: in the morning or at night, but not both. The mythology of my fellow commuters is of the same ilk: either come in early (the crack of dawn) and leave early, or come in late and leave after the late (7 p.m.) Parisian rush-hour traffic. Neither is very satisfactory, but everyone seems to agree that only a large chunk of time at the office justifies driving so far. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE sign, mounted on metal barricades across the Third Street entrance to Prospect Park in Brooklyn, is clear enough. ''Do Not Enter Except Bikes,'' it reads. And for good measure, there is a smaller yellow and black sign that says, ''New.'' It is hard to imagine, then, that the driver of a black Chrysler that pulled up next to the barricades on Wednesday evening missed the sign. Nevertheless, after stopping briefly and looking around a few times, he eased his car past the barrier, gave a few quick honks on his horn and gunned the engine. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]