I would think in some places there was bumper to bumper for short distances. I would expect in parts of NYC it existed. I think it was in the 1920s when traffic lights started to appear.
But 110 years ago, I agree with you on this.
Cities like NYC, London, Paris, LA, Chicago, Denver, Seattle all had traffic problems with cars in 1925.
In 1825 it was carriages and horse and buggy leaving horse manure all over the cobblestone or pavers.
In 1725 it was horses and heavy hooves turning the dirt road into mud and clay muck.
In 1625 it was much the same.
We had a large population centralized in cities long before the Industrial Revolution.
My point is there’s always some person complaining about the X on the road (as if their presence on the road isn’t somehow the opposite).
Also there’s a dump site in New York called Dead Horse bay.
Now doubt there’s many people here who have been to New York, I’ve just seen YouTube videos about this.
Stoops in London? I’m guessing quite a few properties have steps up to the entrance. Going through YouTube videos of shooting locations of the Sweeney and it doesn’t seem that prevalent.