Athens: The Olympics Are Over, And Traffic Is Back

"Athens -- despite its brand new highways, overpasses and transport networks hastily built for the Games - remains dreaded by its drivers, who are watching in horror as the city's streets steadily seize up.

Government planners had hoped the Olympics would shake up driving habits in a city of nearly 5 million people and 2 million cars. Typically unruly Athenians used public transport more frequently and put up with new traffic control cameras and lanes reserved for games officials.But tens of thousands of residents who skipped the Games for a summer vacation brought gridlock back with them, leaving traffic experts searching for new ideas."