Motorists Survive Change in Harvard Square Rules With Slight Confusion

If the new traffic arrangement in Harvard Square, which was inaugurated yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, succeeds, it will be a great boost to Einstein's theory that a curved line, keeping to the right, is the quickest distance between two points.

Under the new system you just keep to the right of the subway island, no matter where you may be coming from. There is over little chance for doing anything wrong, because there is a forest of signs on all sides saying "Rotary Traffic. Keep Right," "Do Not Enter," "Right Turn Only," and "No Left Turn." Yesterday, moreover, there was an entire squad of Cambridge police to keep you from going wrong.

Present Difficulties

The difficulty is to find what you can do that is right. Once you get in the habit of spinning around the subway island, it is hard to got out of it without running down several signs and policemen. We might say the traffic goes 'round and 'round, but we won't.

Other present difficulties are the fact that the U. S. Highway 3 signs point the same direction as the "Do Not Enter" signs, and the fact that the street cars and electric busses continue to butt against the traffic.

Busses Less Aggressive

The big busses that used to come thundering down at you when you were trying to cross the street and stop right in your way, now have to creep along the curb and discharge passengers in front of Straus Hall or the Harvard Trust Company, depending on the direction they are going. Cars may no longer park in either of these places. Parking in front of Straus and Massachusetts Hall will be diagonal.

Not Yet Permanent

This system is on trial and its permanent status will depend on its success in the next few days. If it becomes permanent, stationary signs will be placed on the streets to replace these removable ones.

Woe to Careless Parkers

The next step on the program to clear up traffic problem around the Square will be to tighten up on parking regulations along Massachusetts avenue in front of Wigglesworth Hall. Double line parkers--even "just for a minute"--and haphazard parkers who leave certain portions of their cars projecting into the way of traffic, will be summoned to court without being given any second chance.