I am excited about the smart car capability and potential. I have noticed that afternoon freeway traffic throughout the system, particularly later in the week is back to 1998 levels, when we had a vibrant economy. I am having pretty good success using the backroads and nonarterial to get around and avoid parking on the freeways. The side streets are a wasted resource but ought to be coordinated by the smart system touched by this article.

With the Portland Police license plate photo program and the tracking of cellphones that already exists, maybe we are all going to just have to take the loss of personal liberty, so we can get home after work.