As Utahns along the Wasatch Front face the growing dilemma of traffic congestion, an issue that has not been discussed is general human nature. As humans, we are, by nature, forever weighing the pain-pleasure continuum as we make even our most basic decisions. As it relates to travel, we are slaves to our desire for convenience and independence.

The sad truth of human nature is that until a situation becomes extremely painful we will not change our ways. Altruism and care for the greater good of the environment are not motivation enough to influence behavioral change. The reason mass transit options work in larger urban areas such as New York City or Chicago is because it is more painful to pay the high cost of parking and deal with traffic than it is to sacrifice the convenience of single-car travel.

While the Wasatch Front is not at the point where mass transit options provide the convenience of an urban subway system, human nature should play a part in our mass transit planning. By continuing to simply build more roadways, we postpone the motivational pain that may encourage more to seek alternative means of transportation.

Despite general idle chatter about concerns and commitments to preserve what is great about Utah, pain is still the only truly motivational force of consequence in our banal human nature.

T. Christian Andersen

Salt Lake City