For a number of years, Mary and I played the long commute game, driving to and from Center City every day, battling traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway and 202. When it was just me doing the daily trek, I decided to convert to using Amtrak. What a wonderful decision it was! Gone were the sitting in the usual standstills, trying to find an alternate route to avoid an accident, and the jangled nerves associated with it all. It was a short hop from home to the Exton Train Station and an enjoyable stroll from 30th Street to the workplace. In between, I could snooze, read the paper, play on my laptop, converse with a fellow commuter, or all of the above. Amazing part was that it was faster and cheaper. Sure, there were days when the train gods didn't cooperate, but I didn't need to cope with the problems other than being delayed.
I was just reading an article entitled Tailing the X-Commuter:
The drive to get out of big cities is turning the United States into a land of nomads. "Extreme commuters" who travel more than 90 minutes to work, one way, are the fastest-growing group of commuters, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. They are also an increasingly important economic force shaping everything from real-estate markets to fast-food menus.That makes sense, since we are all searching for our little plot in the 'burbs, one that is affordable in our current economy, but what is unsettling is the response that is being made to facilitate the commuter's woes...
But the real action is inside the cockpit. Cup holders, first introduced in 1982, now outnumber seats in many cars. The new Nissan Altima has three cup holders just for the driver: one for bottled water, one for coffee and one for juice. There are even slots for bottle caps. The new Dodge Caliber offers an optional refrigerated glove box, and its front passenger seat transforms into a dining table when you fold it flat.What a concept - a home away from home on the road. Problem is that it all leads to even more distractions that can create accidents.
Americans today eat an average of 32 meals a year in their cars, according to researcher Harry Balzer at the NPD Group. And they order one in four restaurant meals from the car. So McDonald's is rolling out products that fit in cup holders, like its new Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait.I think that is a gross underestimate, one that is leading to other problems like obesity. The old addage "garbage in, garbage out" comes to mind. Where the hell are people's heads? Oh, that's right, they are connected to their iPods! Stupid me, I forgot. With all of the urban development moving beyond the city, we are paving over more and more of the Earth with concrete and macadam to accomodate the daily migration patterns of these folks. Whatever happened to planning an efficient and affordable mass transit system including high speed rail? Oh, I forgot, that would make too much sense. God forbid we do something sensible. Instead, let's just add to the pollution and keep these idiots happy with their SUV's with DVD players for each person in the vehicle. So, just plug into your latest tunes and become another single occupant vehicle cruising down the road to ruin. You won't have to worry about the consequences - let your grandchildren worry about it.
