Opinion: Cars shape, congest modern lifestyle

A strong case can be made for the airplane, an innovation that became a powerful military force and made long-distance travel possible for millions of people throughout the world. The computer certainly changed things during the last third of the century. However, I believe it will be in the 21st century that the computer will create lifestyles that are as yet unimaginable here. Although a 20th-century device, the 21st will be defined by computer technology.

Be advised that my opinion and two dollars will buy you a doughnut and a cup of coffee at all but the most upscale of coffee shops. That being the case, in my opinion, the automobile defined the 20th century, creating problems that, hopefully, will be solved in the 21st.

A century ago, the number one traffic problem facing most cities was removal of the great amounts of manure left daily by the horses that pulled wagons and carriages. The automobile changed the face of cities throughout the world more so than any other innovation.

Not counting pollution, the downside of cars is traffic, which today is confronted by cities all over the world. Be it London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, New York City or Springfield, controlling traffic is an obstacle to be overcome. Outlying communities aren’t exempt: Have you driven in Ozark, Nixa or Republic lately?

Traffic snarls even arise in paradise. Traffic is a challenge at my winter vacation site, Maui; it’s bumper-to-bumper on the only road between two traffic-clogged cities on opposite sides of the island.

Drivers stuck in the midst of a traffic tie-up anywhere may think that particular spot must be the most poorly planned traffic monstrosity anywhere. Au contraire. Situations as bad or worse can be found down the street all around the world.

This isn’t to say the effects of the automobile are all bad. It created in the 20th century a meaning of mobility beyond the notions of all past generations. The layout of cities has been dictated by the presence of automobiles being affordable for most everyone. The car brought progress: Some may celebrate it, others may not.

A scenario played out almost everywhere consists of a vast assortment of cars coming and going. Like an army of ants, cars are swarming in all directions.

Huge numbers of car lots are indicators of a significant market for new and used cars to join the ones already on the road.

Because the automobile creates mobility to move further away from center cities, new neighborhoods and businesses of all sorts grow outward to serve people brought there by the cars. The result? A staggering number of eating establishments. I have often wondered if anyone ever eats at home anymore. The number of modern food markets answers my question. We have cars and we are mobile. We spend money – a lot of money – on merchandise and food found in malls, shopping centers, restaurants and supermarkets. Such a large demand for goods accounts for all the big truck traffic on highways and city streets.

Cars have shaped modern lifestyles. The home in the suburbs with the three-car garage for the three-car family is the new standard. Truth be told, if I had a three-car garage, I would probably scratch the itch for a sports car I have had for the 15 years since I last had a sports car.

Here we are, into the sixth year of a new century, which will certainly be defined by the computer. Computers have already made cars safer and more reliable. As computer technology goes about defining the century, we can only hope it will come up with high-tech strategies and contrivances to ease the traffic mayhem caused by so many of us enjoying our mobility.

That could guarantee that the computer will rule the century.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.