Guest column: The car, the commute, and the city

I started commuting at a young age. My parents sent me to a French immersion school that was 50 kilometres away from our house. From the time I was five, I endured a one-hour bus ride twice a day. It sounds awful, but "kid commuting" wasn’t so bad. Since we were children we always had a bus driver to take us home, which meant we had time to play, read, write, imagine, and draw while riding the bus.

Adult commuting is a whole other ball game. Adults have the choice to commute by car, transit, or active transportation. Most adults will consider the pros and cons of each mode when deciding which one is best for them. The table below illustrates a possible analysis:

At the end of the day, adults like having control. And having a car is the ultimate form of control. If you drive a car, you can control your route, schedule, radio station, and personal space. In addition, you may feel like you have more choice in terms of job and housing options, as having a car increases your geographic reach.  

Are control and choice worth commuting by car? My argument is that they're not, and here's why:

Reason #1: Mental Health

Stress, rage, and isolation are all symptoms of the car commute. You can free yourself from these emotions by stepping into a transit or active transportation "community." What makes these commuting options a community? A lot of things, like recognizing friends and acquaintances along the way, sharing occasional hellos and conversations with other riders, and learning to smile at strangers who are part of your community. There are opportunities for people watching, admiring from a far, and, if you're bold enough, transit flirting. Check out this article about a couple who met and got married on the bus.

Reason #2: Physical Health

Sitting is killing us. A requirement of the car commute is to sit. There’s a reason why people in Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Florianopolis are so beautiful: they participate in physical activity. What makes these beautiful people active? Cycling infrastructure, trails, paths, sea walls, and outdoor recreational opportunities that are pieces of the urban environment’s active transportation network.

Reason #3: Economics

My third reason why city dwellers should give up the car commute is the dollars and cents behind it. When someone tells you that living downtown in a big city is ridiculously expensive, they're lying. The table below compares my cost of living in Vancouver, BC (a large, walkable, active transportation city) and Guelph, Ontario (a small, car-dependent city):   

That’s right, a downtown lifestyle in a large city is cheaper than a small city lifestyle when you own a car. I should make it clear that my analysis is strictly based on the rental market in each city. Real estate is often unaffordable for Gen Yers in large centres such as Vancouver, but I’ll leave the "rent or buy" debate for another article, possibly titled "Home Ownership – Stop Brainwashing Me."

My final words

Not everyone will agree with my viewpoint, and I understand that. Some jobs require a vehicle for site and client visits. My arguments mostly apply to commuting to a single location.

I think all young people who use or are considering using a car to get to school or work should evaluate their city, commute, transit options, and whether or not they actually need a car. If you live in a large urban area, consider a commuting option that enhances your mental, physical, and economic health. Be brave, give up control, and experiment with more time to be productive. Embrace the increased opportunities to socialize, and the chance to spend less time sitting alone in a car.

Jordan Dolson is a University of Victoria geography graduate with a professional post-graduate degree in public administration. She recently moved from Vancouver, British Columbia to Guelph, Ontario. Her interests include rapid transportation and open government.