Congestion as a Cultural Construct
The ‘Congestion Evil’ in Boston in the 1890s and 1920s
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10249199 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Asha Weinstein (San Jose State University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 97-115 |
| Publication date | 2006-09-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journal of Transport History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-5266 • E-ISSN: 1759-3999 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.7227/tjth.27.2.9 |
| OpenAlex | W2049032968 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
This article looks at traffic congestion as experienced by the Bostonians of two different eras – the 1890s and the 1920s – as a matter of perception. In examining the two different eras, particularly as Bostonians observed traffic congestion in the downtown business district, the author addresses three research questions. First, how did locals define the problems caused by congestion? Secondly, how did their perceptions evolve across the two time periods? Finally, the author asks what factors might explain the differences and similarities between the two eras? The author found that Bostonians' perceptions of traffic congestion during both eras was consistent, despite changes in urban life and street traffic (e.g. transport technology changes; evolution of transport planning and engineering). Both eras had economic concerns that congestion would hamper downtown business activity. Secondly, both eras saw congestion as an impediment to public safety. A third perception both eras shared was the attitude among Bostonians that congestion was self-evident because it impacted everyone; therefore further explanation or justification of congestion being a problem was deemed unnecessary. The author notes, too, that similar contemporary perceptions about traffic congestion are fundamental to urban life and unlikely to disappear anytime soon
Construct (python library · Downtown · Economic geography · Geography · Perception · Political science · Traffic congestion · Transport engineering · American Environmental and Regional History · American History and Culture · Computer Science · Engineering · Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts
| Citations per year | 0.12 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2009 - 2017 (9) |
| Highly cited | No |