Getting Around

* At the turn of the 19th century, planners saw the future in terms of rail systems and shipping, never imagining the growth of the airline industry, the automobile or the beginnings of space travel.

One hundred years ago we only had dirt roads and cobblestone. Walking, horse and wagon, rail and trolleys and bicycling were the means to get around. Today, the Orange County Transportation Authority, while acknowledging the importance of the automobile, is still pushing rail, walking and bicycling. It is surprising that horse and buggy is not promoted.

I, for one, prefer to see our future with significant breakthroughs in transportation. Congestion is a phenomenon of only the last half of the century past. It is a consequence of lack of anticipation of demand.

If the planners can’t, then technology will surely take us out of the present traffic morass. One hundred years from now I expect we will have efficient, safe, fast, congestion-free transportation that will be able to get us everywhere.

DAVID L. MOOTCHNIK

Huntington Beach