I am happy that gas prices are finally going up in the U.S.. It's time to cut dependence on gas, reduce harmful emissions, and create a modern and civilized form of city life. The personal automobile should be seen as an archaism or a luxury.

Cars have been mainly a blight to cities. Urban life could be vastly improved: Taxes should rather be increased on fuel, and use of large, inefficient, and unsafe vehicles. Congestion pricing should be introduced in the cities. The resulting income should finance public transit and environmental improvements to the cities. Street parking should be reduced or eliminated in more areas. Pedestrian zones should be created. Modern streetcar systems - quiet, smooth ride, clean - should replace buses, and should have dedicated lanes for speedy transit.

See recent initiatives in Paris and London to realize just how realistic and positive such initiatives can be.