Pictures recently shared by Yosemite National forest’s social media team show that traffic in the park has actually been an issue for almost 100 years. A current surge of outdoor-focused tourist has actually brought more people to the park than ever before. However, the traffic and parking headache in the park is obviously absolutely nothing brand-new.
The post on Instagram starts with a quote from 1927 that checks out, “The Summer of 1927 has clearly shown that parking is among the most urgent, menacing issues of the entire Yosemite Valley.”
The quote from Don Tresidder, a president of the Yosemite Park and Curry Co., came from the opening of Highway 140, which remains a main corridor. The roadway was developed to make access to the park much easier as it prevented treacherous mountain roadways. Officials state in the very first year of the roadway, the number of automobiles doubled to 137,000.
South Entryway, 1951.(Source: NPS)At the time, parking was also a problem. Chauffeurs would park practically throughout the park’s well-known meadows. However, Yosemite officials state the park could still handle the traffic. That is up until the size of automobiles grew, and crowds rose steadily.
By 1970, officials made changes to close the valley and meadows to cars and trucks to secure the park much better. Much like today, when a national forest announces brand-new strategies, it’s typically met with debate. Even a famous conservationist discussed the modifications and how we require to find out a way to both protect the park and access for the general public.
“What I believe now is that we must comply with reality,” said Ansel Adams in 1970. “The residents of our country should have the fantastic experience of Yosemite, limited only by the requirements– physical, administrative, environmental– to keep this experience intact.”
If you avoid ahead 50 years later on, traffic and parking are still problems. Now, we have viral videos showing how bad it can be to enter into the park.
Memorial Day Weekend, 1975. (Source: NPS) For 2024, the park has gone back to a booking system. Those passes went on sale just last week for the summertime. But as the park continues to work to browse a mix of park gain access to and safeguarding the landscape, they do wish to speak with the public. You can go here to share your feedback about going to Yosemite.
What do you think should be done about traffic in among America’s most popular parks?
Images just recently shared by Yosemite National Park’s social networks group show that traffic in the park has been an issue for nearly 100 years.