America's Unhealthy Commutes

They should just call this Forbes' article, "Southern California's Unhealthy Commutes." We live in the city and work in the city so our commutes are minimal when compared with many of our coworkers who live outside of the city. Highway 405 becomes a giant parking lot during traffic hours. People who live 15 miles outside of the city have to endure 30, 60, or even 90 minutes of traffic each way. Sure, people can move and stay in a small town, the country side, where the population is less than 100,000. But what's the fun in that? I grew up in a small town with less than 60,000 people. The fresh air, quiet mountain side, and mom/pop shops are over rated and dull. What is the point of living a long life if you do not live it the way you want and have fun doing it? There is a reason that more and more people flock to the city everyday: it is fun! Nothing is perfect. And commuting is just one of those side effects of L.A. living.

"Not only do commuters in Southern California inhale the worst year-round particle pollution levels, but Riverside drivers also face the highest rate of fatal auto accidents per capita, and Los Angeles drivers spend the most time sitting in traffic. In 2003, the annual delay per traveler there was 93 hours. Long commutes, research has shown, can lead to loss of short-term memory, more days of missed work and such ailments as higher blood pressure, muscle tension and an accelerated heart rate...Ultra-fine particulate matter has been linked with premature death, cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness, according to the California Air Resources Board. Though it takes Americans an average of 25 minutes to drive to work, according to 2005 U.S. Census Bureau figures, the board estimates that over 50% of a person's daily exposure to ultra-fine particles can occur during a commute."

No one enjoys commuting. Commuting is a choice, a trade-off. I do not think anyone can quit commuting because living in or near a city is addictive. I do have to admit that the article does make you think about country living for about 0.7 seconds.