State of Transportation in Los Angeles Area

The Times has done a good job documenting what most of us have experienced for years--the worsening of our traffic. As one who rides a bicycle to work every day, I see congestion reflected in drivers’ making sudden unsafe lane changes, speeding through intersections against red lights, and barely slowing down at stop signs. I always wear a helmet when I pedal, and I am tempted to start doing so when driving.

I also want to call attention to a symptom of drivers’ attitudes, which The Times has overlooked. The “padoodle” monster seems to have arrived in unprecedented numbers. It is hard to drive more than a couple of blocks at night without finding a car with one headlight out. Maybe “padoodlism” is a disease that cars get by being parked too close together, or maybe drivers do not care for their cars as well as in the past. In any event, it is just another indication of modern driving hazards.

PAUL BERGMAN

Los Angeles