Writing Task 2

Car Ownership

Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past thirty years that in many cities around the world, there are constant traffic jams.

How true do you think this statement is?

What measures can governments take to discourage people from owning cars?

There has been ongoing debate about whether or not there is a causal relationship between the surging rates of car ownership over the past 30 years in cities around the globe and constant traffic congestion. In my opinion, there is a strong correlation between the two, and governments funding public transport and implementing disincentives on car ownership represent feasible countermeasures.

The ubiquity of cars is a major contributing factor to constant traffic jams. Firstly, the rise of the burgeoning middle class around the globe, and their disposable incomes, has led to increased global sales of private vehicles, particularly cars. Cars take up a significant amount of space on roads, while generally only carrying one or two passengers, greatly contributing to and exacerbating traffic congestion. Additionally, road infrastructure in many cities dates back decades or even centuries and often cannot cope with modern vehicles. As most cities are becoming increasingly densely populated due to people migrating for career opportunities and a higher standard of living, this also means increased car usage and, in turn, traffic congestion.

There are several policies that governments can implement to discourage car ownership among the general public. Policymakers can enact laws and regulations that increase the cost of owning cars, such as tax hikes on the various components for cars, greater gasoline prices, higher parking fees, and more frequent road tolls. Additionally, the authorities can maintain and improve existing public transport provisions with the aim of making public modes of transport more attractive options to road users. This might involve diverting public subsidies to fund the construction of more modern underground train lines, dedicated bicycle lanes, and more punctual buses. These logical measures would act as disincentives for motorists to gradually abandon cars in favor of other modes of public transit.

In conclusion, the rise of incomes and population figures are the underlying reasons behind the increase of car ownership, which explains the commonly observed traffic jams around the globe. In response, governments can pass laws unfavorable to owning private cars while, at the same time, upgrading public transport infrastructure. Furthermore, governments can work in conjunction with the general public, and individuals can take the initiative to use cars less often.


Essay Breakdown

Structure

Introduction

[1] There has been ongoing debate about whether or not there is a causal relationship between the surging rates of car ownership over the past 30 years in cities around the globe and constant traffic congestion. [2] In my opinion, there is a strong correlation between the two, and governments funding public transport and implementing disincentives on car ownership represent feasible countermeasures.

[1] Paraphrase the topic of the question.

[2] Express a clear personal opinion that there is a strong correlation between the two and suggests solutions from governments.

Body

Paragraph 1

[1] The ubiquity of cars is a major contributing factor to constant traffic jams. [2] Firstly, the rise of the burgeoning middle class around the globe, and their disposable incomes, has led to increased global sales of private vehicles, particularly cars. [3] Cars take up a significant amount of space on roads, while generally only carrying one or two passengers, greatly contributing to and exacerbating traffic congestion. [4] Additionally, road infrastructure in many cities dates back decades or even centuries and often cannot cope with modern vehicles. [5] As most cities are becoming increasingly densely populated due to people migrating for career opportunities and a higher standard of living, this also means increased car usage and, in turn, traffic congestion.

[1] A topic sentence answering the first question

[2] Supporting idea 1: the burgeoning middle class and their disposable incomes

[3] Further explanation of this first supporting point 

[4] Supporting idea 2: inadequate road infrastructure

[5] Further explanation of this second supporting point

Paragraph 2

[1] There are several policies that governments can implement to discourage car ownership among the general public. [2] Policymakers can enact laws and regulations that increase the cost of owning cars, such as tax hikes on the various components for cars, greater gasoline prices, higher parking fees, and more frequent road tolls. [3] Additionally, the authorities can maintain and improve existing public transport provisions with the aim of making public modes of transport more attractive options to road users. [4] This might involve diverting public subsidies to fund the construction of more modern underground train lines, dedicated bicycle lanes, and more punctual buses. [5] These logical measures would act as disincentives for motorists to gradually abandon cars in favor of other modes of public transit.

[1] A topic sentence answering the second question

[2] Supporting idea 1 + Explanation: The various ways to increase the cost of owning cars

[3] Supporting idea 2: Investing in public transport

[4] Further explanation and examples of the second supporting point

[5] Keep developing and offer a conclusion to this paragraph

Conclusion

[1] In conclusion, the rise of incomes and population figures are the underlying reasons behind the increase of car ownership, which explains the commonly observed traffic jams around the globe. [2] In response, governments can pass laws unfavorable to owning private cars while, at the same time, upgrading public transport infrastructure. [3] Furthermore, governments can work in conjunction with the general public, and individuals can take the initiative to use cars less often.

1. Restate the answer to question 1: “Reasons”

2. Restate the answer to question 2: “Solutions”

3. Extend the viewpoint by stating a final thought

Vocabulary

There has been ongoing debate about whether or not there is a causal relationship between the surging rates of car ownership over the past 30 years in cities around the globe and constant traffic congestion. In my opinion, there is a strong correlation between the two, and governments funding public transport and implementing disincentives on car ownership represent feasible countermeasures.

The ubiquity of cars is a major contributing factor to constant traffic jams. Firstly, the rise of the burgeoning middle class around the globe, and their disposable incomes, has led to increased global sales of private vehicles, particularly cars. Cars take up a significant amount of space on roads, while generally only carrying one or two passengers, greatly contributing to and exacerbating traffic congestion. Additionally, road infrastructure in many cities dates back decades or even centuries and often cannot cope with modern vehicles. As most cities are becoming increasingly densely populated due to people migrating for career opportunities and a higher standard of living, this also means increased car usage and, in turn, traffic congestion.

There are several policies that governments can implement to discourage car ownership among the general public. Policymakers can enact laws and regulations that increase the cost of owning cars, such as tax hikes on the various components for cars, greater gasoline prices, higher parking fees, and more frequent road tolls. Additionally, the authorities can maintain and improve existing public transport provisions with the aim of making public modes of transport more attractive options to road users. This might involve diverting public subsidies to fund the construction of more modern underground train lines, dedicated bicycle lanes, and more punctual buses. These logical measures would act as disincentives for motorists to gradually abandon cars in favor of other modes of public transit.

In conclusion, the rise of incomes and population figures are the underlying reasons behind the increase of car ownership, which explains the commonly observed traffic jams around the globe. In response, governments can pass laws unfavorable to owning private cars while, at the same time, upgrading public transport infrastructure. Furthermore, governments can work in conjunction with the general public, and individuals can take the initiative to use cars less often.

  • Ongoing debate: A continuing discussion or argument.
  • Causal relationship: A relationship where one event causes another.
  • Correlation: A relationship or connection.
  • Countermeasures: Steps taken to prevent or reduce negative effects.
  • Ubiquity: Being everywhere at the same time.
  • Traffic jams: A situation where vehicles are stuck in a line and unable to move.
  • Burgeoning middle class: A growing group of people with moderate money and status.
  • Disposable incomes: Money available for spending after necessary expenses.
  • Private vehicles: Cars or other transportation owned by individuals.
  • Exacerbating: Making a problem worse.
  • Road infrastructure: The system of roads and transportation-related structures in an area.
  • Densely populated: Having many people living in a small area.
  • Public transport: Transportation available for use by the general public.
  • Policymakers: People who make decisions about laws and regulations.
  • Tax hikes: An increase in taxes.
  • Gasoline prices: The cost of buying gasoline for a vehicle.
  • Parking fees: Money paid to park a vehicle.
  • Road tolls: A fee paid to use a specific road or bridge.
  • Public subsidies: Money given by the government to support a specific activity or organization.
  • Underground train lines: Train lines that run underground.
  • Dedicated bicycle lanes: Areas designated specifically for bicycles.
  • Punctual buses: Buses that arrive and depart on schedule.
  • Disincentives: Factors that discourage doing something.
  • Gradually abandon: To slowly stop using or participating in something.
  • Underlying reasons: The main or fundamental cause of something.
  • Incomes: Money received
  • Population figures: Numbers of people living in an area.
  • In response: As a reaction to something.
  • Unfavorable: Not favorable or supportive.
  • Upgrading: Making something better or more advanced.
  • Public transport infrastructure: The system of public transportation in an area.
  • In conjunction with: Working together with.
  • Take the initiative: To start something on your own.
  • Use cars less often: To drive a car less frequently.

Grammar Gems: 

CONJUNCTION

“In my opinion, there is a strong correlation between the two, and governments funding public transport and implementing disincentives on car ownership represent feasible countermeasures.”

In this sentence, the conjunction “and” is used to link three different clauses together, creating a compound sentence. Note the use of a comma with the first “and”. 

Reading

Further reading about this topic can be found here:

https://www.mobindustry.net/blog/top-8-carsharing-mobile-apps/

Listening

Further listening about this topic can be found here:

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