The world's first underground (地铁) was built in London in 1863. At the time, the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems. There were so many people living in the poor areas of the city.【小题1】 If people had an easy way to get to and from work, they would live outside of the city and this would help reduce traffic problems in London. As a result, the idea of the London Underground was born.

The plans for building the London Underground met with several problems.【小题2】 A steam train pulled the cars along the first underground track which was six kilometers long.【小题3】They were treated to comfortable seats inside the cars. However, the smoke from the engine (发动机) soon filled the air in the tunnels (隧道).【小题4】 Even with its problems, riding the underground did become popular. It carried nine million riders in its first year.

Modern underground has come a long way since the early days of the London Underground. 【小题5】 Shopping malls built in traffic stations have helped the popularity of the underground. Nowadays many stations include underground department stores, supermarkets and restaurants. Shoppers never have to go above ground!

Forget Cyclists, Pedestrians are Real Danger

We are having a debate about this topic. Here are some letters from our readers.

★Yes, many cyclists behave dangerously. Many drivers are disrespectful of cyclists. But pedestrians are probably the worst offenders.

People of all ages happily walk along the pavement with eyes and hands glued to the mobile phone, quite unaware of what is going on around them. They may even do the same thing while crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing or elsewhere. The rest of us have to evade（避让）them or just stand still to wait for the unavoidable collision（碰撞）.

The real problem is that some pedestrians seem to be, at least for the moment, in worlds of their own that are, to them, much more important than the welfare of others.

——Michael Horan

★I love the letter from Bob Brooks about cyclists（Viewpoints, May 29）. I am afraid they seem to think they own the roads.

I was walking across Altrincham Road one morning when a cyclist went round me and on being asked what he was doing he shouted at me.

The government built a cycle lane on the road but it is hardly used.

The police do nothing. What a laugh they are!

The cyclists should all have to be made to use the cycle lanes and wear helmets, fluorescent（发荧光的）jacket and lights at night and in the morning they should pay some sort of tax and be fined for not wearing them.

——Carol Harvey

★Cyclists jump on and off pavements（which are meant for pedestrians）, ride at speed alone the pavement, and think they have a special right to go through traffic lights when they are on red.

I was almost knocked down recently by a cyclist riding on the pavement when there was a cycle lane right next to him.

Other road users, including horse riders, manage to obey the rules so why not cyclists?

It's about time they had to be registered and insured, so when they do hi a pedestrian or a vehicle, or cause an accident, at least they can be treated and there might be an opportunity to claim compensation.

——JML

Write to Viewpoints of the newspaper.