There are more and more cars sold each year all around the world especially in developed countries. With cars being so convenient, it is no wonder the trend is consistent. However, they also raise a whole scope of problems: air pollution, congestion, lack of parking space, the necessity of recycling schemes. Only in Britain the number of cars now roughly equals half of Britain’s population. It is clear that the growth must somehow be limited. This can be done in two ways.
Cars can become less popular if people are encouraged to use alternative forms of transport. This can be easily achieved if city councils make efforts to improve public transport systems. Taking a spacious bus will be appealing to many on condition it is cheap and reliable. Special lanes will not only make riding a bike safe for those who enjoy cycling as a keep fit activity, but also help many people to get to work quickly and on time. Another popular measure is tax incentives for those who buy cars with environmentally friendly exhaust systems and hybrid engines. All the above mentioned steps can persuade people to use their personal vehicles less.
However, there is another approach consisting in adopting international laws to control car ownership and use. For example, a car owner must be legally obliged to change a car filtering system every two years or there can be a regulation forbidding to have more than one car in a family.
In my opinion, it is far better to use the encouragement approach. Firstly, people are more likely to do something they find beneficial for them personally, rather than something they are simply made to do. Secondly, any attempt to control the way consumer goods are sold can be a serious threat to democracy. People must be persuaded to care about the environment genuinely and enthusiastically and the result will not take long to see.