How do cities like Athens cope with congestion from a growing metropolis?

Question

narrow streets, too many people, pollution. How did they solve or attemp to solve the problems?

Answer 1

Athens has a new and very good subway (metro), but unfortunately it doesn't go everywhere. Now there is also Attiki odos, a good highway that leads to many new areas with no traffic. Traffic conjestion and pollution is not so bad in Athens. I have been stuck outside London for much longer than in Athens. However, the problem will never be solved adequately unless people learn to use means of public transport instead of their cars or taxis. And taxis should be less, they cause most of the problems, because they circulate all the time.

Answer 2

New rapid transit lines - the construction of a few began in the run up to the summer Olympics.

Answer 3

Athens like many large cities has reached its limits. In fact, it has become an unbearable city to live in, and that is one reason that many inhabitants have moved to the far off, surrounding small villages on the North and West sides of Attica. Commuting to the center on daily basis is a problem, because is done on individual means of transport and that increases the traffic. The development of those new towns has helped only partially in solving the problem but in fact removed the congestion from the center to to the suburbs.
Measures taken are for short time solutions and those shortly become obsolete, because are overtaken by the ever increasing conditions.
New constructional works help the situation for a while but drastic solutions have to be found and applied the soonest.
One measure which has been in effect for many years now is the division of the center into two rings. The inner "ring" that surrounds the commercial center of Athens is not accessible by cars all day except buses and taxis. The greater "ring" is access able by car every other day in accordance to the traffic license plate of the car depending on odd or even numbers of day. That measure has helped the center but has increased the problem on the peripheral places.
Measures should also be taken by individuals, but most of us are not all that willing to do so.