One-way Traffic - History

History

The first one-way street was established in Lima, the capital metropolis of Peru. The first one-way street in London was Albemarle Street in Mayfair, the location of the Royal Institution. It was designated London's first one-way street because the public science lectures were so popular there. The first one-way streets in Paris were the Rue de Mogador and the Rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, created on 13 December 1909.

One story of the origin of the one-way street in the United States originated in Asbury Park, NJ. On 9 September 1934, the on fire SS Morro Castle was towed to the shore near the Asbury Park Convention Center, the sightseeing traffic was enormous. The Asbury Park Police Chief decided to make the Ocean Avenue one-way going North and the street one block over (Kingsley) in one-way going south creating a circular route. By the Fifties this cruising the circuit became a draw to the area in itself since teens would drive around it looking to hook up with other teens. The circuit was in place until the streets went back to two way in 2007 due to new housing and retail development.

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