The 2024 Summer Olympics have just ended in Paris. As part of the closing press conference, the next host city of the Olympic Games traditionally gives a brief preview. In 2028, the US metropolis of Los Angeles will host the Games and, completely unexpectedly, Karen Bass, Mayor of LA, announced that the 2028 Games will be “car-free”.
She is relying entirely on public transport, and private cars should not be used for transportation. Work is already underway to expand public transport so that the city can have “car-free” games, Bass explained.
Nevertheless, Bass’ plan sounds utopian, as the largest city in California has so far been considered a pure car city, even though the US state has been a pioneer in environmental protection for decades.
17 days without a car
Back in 2017, when the decision was made in favor of LA as the host city for the 2028 Summer Olympics, then-Mayor Eric Garcetti drew up plans to sustainably strengthen public transport in the metropolis. Some of these projects have already been completed, while others have been brought forward to 2028. Special taxes were introduced to finance the projects, which are expected to bring in around 100 billion dollars. In addition, around 3,000 buses brought together from across the country will provide additional support for transport to and between the sports venues during the games.
Bass believes that there are a number of measures that can be taken to prepare the public to avoid using their cars during the 17-day Games. In the long term, Bass hopes that the “car-free” Games will encourage people to switch to public transportation permanently.
Public transport was slowed down
The car manufacturers are to blame for the fact that public transport has played hardly any role in the Californian metropolis to date. In the 1950s, the greater Los Angeles area had an excellent public transport system in the form of the Pacific Electric “Red Car” trolley system (a type of streetcar). In a nationwide conspiracy between GM, Standard Oil, Firestone Tires, Phillips Petroleum and Mack Trucks, which became known as the General Motors Streetcar Conspiracy, the conspirators bought up public transport systems across the country. They then dismantled them in order to rely on cars instead. The Red Car system in LA was thus shut down in 1961. GM was fined $5,000 after the conspiracy became known.
Yes, as far as I can.
No, the public transport infrastructure is far too poor for me.
The mayor of LA announces “car-free” Summer Olympics for 2028. To achieve this, Karen Bass is relying on extensively modernized and expanded public transport as well as the understanding of the citizens of LA