THE LONG AND GRINDING ROAD

NAUGHTON(2006) NEWSWEEK/3/1/53-59

Chris Neelley, 43 drives 160 miles round trip to get to work. He kids rarely sees him. Others have similiar stories with 2 hour trips or 90 minutes. That was my commute. It took 45 minutes to and 45 minutes back, driving from country roads to the downtown central business district. In doing some post graduate work, it was at least a 500 mile roundtrip every week .I hated both experiences.

America commutes. They want the small town feel and a big house with yard and little crime. When companies start locating in the suburbs folks find places even further away. Now that gas is up, something has got to give There are now 250 million autos on the road and so commutes become hazardous to one's health. Most drive solo. They eat their breakfast in the car, shave, put on cosmetics, and catch up on the morning news. They then get on their cell phone and call someone.The inattention to the road drives up the number of people who die on the highway.

9.5 million start driving to work at 5 AM to 6 AM. Now 9 out of 10 commute by car. Some are able to afford HOT LINES. They are special highways in which you can go quite fast and without much traffic, because you can pay a lot of money to get on these special roads.

Living in one's car  can cause problems. The emotions generated from long commutes encourage anxiety, ulcers, depression, and road rage. A small minority enjoy the ride.

Why all the problems? Americans like to have their own car and like to live far away from the social problems that may be near their work. Although numerous strategies and campaigns have been tried to change Americans to smaller abodes and mass transit, nearly all have failed. There are numerous forces on the side of sprawl.

New cars now have more cup holders and seats that can be warm or cool. Other gadgets should follow. All compliment the commute.

The American dream now seems to be a long trek to somewhere and back.