Like every person in SF, my friends and I wanted to escape Sunday’s heat. We decided to go to the beach, but not the typical beaches SF people go to, because we knew that there would not be any space. As we made our way over the Golden Gate bridge you’re categorized as a: vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Obviously we were pedestrian, therefore we were confined to the right side (outbound side) of the bridge. In the middle were 6 lanes going North and South filled with vehicles – easily speeding 70 mph – on the far left side were bicyclist going from 5 (the tourist) to 25 mph. But the question then became was that enough.
Bridge rules separated the three modes of transportation, but it did not solve the problem of congestion. As Zimmer stated, “cars aren’t the problem, but the way we use them,” thus, how can we find a solution to 21st century congestion. Is there a way to be speedy, but yet enjoy life’s offerings like Carlsson describes with his bike? Zimmer quote, “Transportation doesn’t just impact how we get from place to place. It shapes what those places look like, and the lives of the people who live there,” partially highlights the difficulties around our ability to coexist. Because there are so many variances across urban cities and preferred/realistic transportation methods, our ability to coexist imparts social barriers that continues the need for a new “transportation revolution.”