In this country, the automobile is the most common form of transportation. You don’t need to go far to observe the problems that come with it.

Gainesville has its share of slow spots, but once you approach the outskirts of Atlanta, traffic gets remarkably thick, day and night. Adding lanes to the superhighways appears to work for a short while, but that often they end up attracting even more traffic. Clearly, other solutions are needed.

Bicycling is a wonderful sport, but for a daily commute, the lack of bike paths as well as the changeability of our weather are obstacles. In most Asian countries, small motorcycles and scooters are the vehicle of choice. This, too, isn’t for everybody. While this author gets around on two wheels most of the time, enjoying 60 mpg fuel economy, the weather and the physical demands involved in riding motorbikes, as well as the increased injury risk, rule them out as a general solution.

Car transportation poses problems beside traffic congestion and long travel times. One is air pollution. Catalytic converters, lead-free fuel and hybrid motors have made our air cleaner than it was 30 years ago. But when you sit in stop-and-go traffic on Route 20 or Interstate 85, it becomes clear that burning fossil fuel for individualized travel is a concept that needs revision after 100 years of run time.

Nevertheless, car production worldwide is at an all-time high, and increasing. Worldwatch Institute reports that 78.6 million units were sold in 2011. The largest increase is in China, where sales went from 10 million cars in 2000 to 73 million last year.

Electric cars, now becoming generally available and supported by tax credits, produce zero emissions but don’t relieve congestion. The solution that will address all of these problems: freeing up highways, cutting emissions, and accommodating the general public, is light rail.

The 1965 MARTA Act was a promising start, but today MARTA serves only DeKalb and Fulton County. Light rail can run just about anywhere: on streets, in dedicated track zones, tunnels and more. Seattle, Salt Lake City, and San Diego stand out as excellent, highly efficient models.

Unfortunately, MARTA is the only major area transit authority in the U.S. that doesn’t receive state funding. Unless it becomes a firm part of regional transportation planning, one can only look at the systems elsewhere with some envy.

Rudi Kiefer, Ph.D., is a professor of physical science and director of sustainability at Brenau University. His column appears Sundays and at gainesvilletimes.com.