It seems these articles about the worst commutes come out every month. This month Forbes.com offers up The Most Unhealthy Commutes in America. First, the top 5 (with 2 California cities – no surprise):
The Top 5 Most Unhealthy Commutes
1. Riverside, Calif.
2. Atlanta, GA
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. (tie) Houston, TX
4. (tie) Washington, D.C.
Then you get this interesting piece of data (emphasis mine):
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.
Yeah, that seems crazy to me sitting up here in Minneapolis where I thought we had bad commutes. But here is an author explaining the SoCal mentality:
“It’s a lifestyle choice,” says David Rizzo, author of Survive the Drive! How to Beat Freeway Traffic in Southern California. “We put our health second. To have a big house, we’re willing to put up with smog and a big drive. We sacrifice our longevity for short-term gains.”
Is it any wonder that telecommuting is such a hot topic in hiring today?