One of my Facebook friends, sitting in traffic and late for work this morning, posted her frustration at all the "stupid" people who were in her way and how "unreal" commuting was. I was tempted to comment, but didn't want to add to her irritation. Why didn't she live closer to work? Why didn't she take transit?
Many people think that owning a motor vehicle is a necessity. Not really. People drive when they could walk. Many never take transit at all, although sometimes it's faster, certainly less frustrating, probably less expensive. During the transit strike a few years ago, I carpooled with three other co-workers for a few weeks. It wasn't very difficult. I didn't leave any earlier or get to work any later. After the strike, we returned to using transit.
I suppose the frustrations and cost of driving haven't yet reached the breaking point. There are complaints when the cost of gas rises. For awhile, sales of hybrids and more gas efficient vehicles rise. However, as soon as the price of gas recedes, the purchase of the big SUVs returns. Drill deeper, pollute more.
Henry Ford created the moving assembly line over a hundred years ago, transforming the ownership of vehicles from a luxury for the rich to a necessity for the working person. This was, of course, hailed as a great achievement. Part of the American dream. So as you sit in traffic during your daily commute, listen to the music and enjoy it.
In my city of residence we in an "economic boom"
ReplyDeleteThe traffic has become a nightmare. Two years ago the commute home from work was quite tolerable. Not so anymore.
My partner and I anguish over the change, given the pollution, road rage, the SUV mentality that we are exposed to daily.
We made a conscious decision to "do our our part". Part of the plan includes taking transit whenever possible(it is quite possible and most days more convenient) We also set aside one day a week, where the car sits idle...we do not use the car that day, no matter what the circumstances. That day can fluctuate, it does not need to be the same day each week, but it must happen each week. So far, we have been able to stick to our plan and with winter coming, I can't see that changing. Come on people, join us !!!
Good for you. I think it would be possible for everyone to reduce their amount of driving by 25% without much trouble, either by taking transit, making fewer trips, or occasionally carpooling.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone made an effort to combine trips (maybe doing the bulk of their errands on one or two days a week, rather than on impulse), that should reduce the amount of vehicle usage as well.
I take the MRT to work in Taipei. It's a bit crowded, especially in the morning (forget sitting). It takes me 40 minutes, door-to-door. Since were moving under traffic, I can always time it; commute times do not change. And it costs me NT$20, about 60 cents US. Taipei continues to put in MRT lines all the time. We never get tired of them.
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