I was very interested to see the front page story in today’s copy of our local newspaper, The West Australian. While it’s talking about a local issue I’m sure that it’s one that people can relate to in cities right around the world.
According to the story Commuters suffering traffic stress, three quarters of Perth commuters are getting stressed out during their daily drive to work.
I couldn’t put myself through that day after day. I very rarely get caught in peak hour traffic and I hate it. Having to do that ten times a week, five times to work, five times home, would convince me it’s time to make a change.
Three out of four Perth commuters become stressed and frustrated during their daily drive to work, with most blaming rude and aggressive drivers and stop-start traffic.
A major survey of commuters across Australia, to be released today, also found that Perth commuters were the highest users of private vehicles in the country.
Seventy per cent of Perth commuters opted to drive their car to and from work.
The details come from a major survey of commuters across Australia. It also seems that Perth commuters are the highest users of private vehicles in the country with 70% of Perth commuters choosing to drive their cars to and from work.
Perth commutes are generally shorter than in other Australian cities but we’re still getting stressed.
It found that 97 per cent of Perth drivers spent less than an hour commuting to work, with an average one-way trip of 27 minutes – the lowest in the nation.
Yet 73 per cent said they experienced stress during their daily commute, with 28 per cent saying it had a negative impact on their health.
It’s interesting to see that in a related story, Workers dodge freeway frustration, The West is highlighting cycling as a way to beat the traffic blues.
With the amazing conditions we have in Perth I’m surprised that more people haven’t switched to two wheels. One of the highlights of my day is zooming along the freeway bike path while people sit stuck in traffic. It’s not that I delight in seeing people experiencing the stress of peak hour traffic, it’s more that I know that what I’m doing is actively driving my own stress levels down. Well, that and the fact that I’m having an enormous amount of fun every morning.
How’s your daily commute? Do you feel stressed as head to work and home each day? Would you consider cycling to work? What would it take for you to make the switch?
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Hi Rodney!
I don’t live in Australia but I do live in NJ and I hate commuting to work. Even my 17 miles one way… I hate. People are always in a rush and just have no respect for other drivers on the road. It’s stressful. I don’t know how my husband does it 60 miles one way… 5 days per week on the GS Parkway. People are just insane.
I’m not sure cycling to work would be an option… lol I would lose the weight i finally want to lose though.
Hope all is well.
Hello Kat … great to hear from you.
Your husband sure has a long daily commute. Is that likely to be an ongoing thing? I don’t think I could handle that. (Of course if I did it on my bike I’d end up being extremely fit.)
cycling is the way… though with no shower at work and still needing my own car at work its a challenge to do it but still worthwhile 🙂
I’m certainly glad that I have shower facilities at work. Especially with the hot, humid days we’ve been having lately.
Cycling is definitely the way to go (although at the moment my commute is only 1.5km cycling means I have time to come home for lunch).
When I had a slightly longer commute (about 8km) switching from public transport (2 trams and running 2 blocks inbetween to switch trams)to cycling and doing the long route along a creek was soooo much nicer and much less stressful (and often took less time than trams).
Interesting how when we’re on a bike we often choose the longer route. When we’re in a car or using public transport it’s all about getting the travelling over with as soon as possible. When we ride it adds another aspect to the day and we embrace it.
When I am permitted to drive (legally), I have to take the car because work own it and I’m meant to used it during the day. But while I’m ‘off the road’ for 3months, I have to take public transport, ride or a combination of both. The whole ride into work is 29km… Which is nothing to you fit guys whole can ride across the country. But for someone like me it’s very hard work. Took me hours each way! Well close to 2 hrs anyway: Double the time of taking bus/train. But I’m very ‘out of condition’ 😉
29 km is a fair ride. It’s something you can get used to but you really need to build up to that kind of distance over a period. Jumping into that kind of riding straight away can sometimes just lead to discouragement and a bike that gets left in the shed.
I’d suggest building distance and speed little by little on the weekends or after work until the commute is a bit less daunting.
Yes, I tried the ‘build up to it’ but my family seemed to be sabotaging my efforts. Evidently, I can’t do anything on my own on the weekends because family needs me… (?).
So I took the plunge and did the whole trip. It wasn’t that bad but took a long time. I’m not sure I would ever get it down to half the time as that would mean 30km/h and that’s quite a pace on a MTB. You serious road bike guys might make those speeds.
I am planning to ride to the train station – then let the other passengers suffer the smell. Then have a shower in the ‘mould room’ when I get to work.
I would be glad to cycle to work but certain conditions prevent it. As a pastor, I need to have access to a car. I don’t have the stress level since I live in a small town in Indiana and live less than 2 miles from the church office. hardly seems worth it to get dressed to ride 2 miles. Plus I often go the Y before so that would defeat the shower. Now…if I had a shower here that might make some difference. but if I lived in a big city with traffic jams I would ride. No doubt.
A small town in Indiana? That’s tough. 🙂
Sounds like a place I’d like to visit someday. I’d love to hear more about it.