Infographic | The Killer Commute

Why is work more often than not on the opposite side of town? It creates a killer commute. Driving that much just isn’t good for our mind, our health, nor our marriages. Check out this week’s infographic – The Killer Commute.

Cube Dweller Commutes

For much of my career I spent my morning and evening commuting through Minneapolis. I lived in the northwest suburbs and worked in the south or south-west suburbs. Crazy. Most of the time I learned to relax and enjoy the ride. It was my decompression-time. I tried not to time my commute so I didn’t get frustrated, or stressed, about how long it took.

Did it always work … of course not. Pile people in their cars and flood the roadways with more traffic than they can handle. The result is cube dwellers staring at brake lights wishing they were somewhere else. As if working in a cubicle didn’t provide enough stress already.

The Italian Secret

One thing that stuck out to me while pouring through the infographic … I could deal with a 30 minute commute in Italy. Think about it. What types of vehicles come to mind? Alfa Romeo, Ferarri, Fiat, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pininfarina and then there are the Italian motorcycles like Aprilia (my current ride), Ducati (my prior ride), moto Guzzi, or MV Agusta (my dream ride).

Okay so I have to take you on a side adventure. Really this about your health and why your commute is killing you. Seriously – okay not so seriously. As a cube dweller I am drawn in by elegant design and well done marketing. The MV Agusta Brutale quickly jumped onto my dream list. While watching this video just think about your commute if you were riding an MV Agusta Brutale and ask two things: Would your commute be less stressful? Would it most likely take less time?

That ad is over 5 years old and it still pulls me in and gets my adrenaline pumping. whew! sigh!

Okay where were we? Yes, the killer commute. Now that I pulled you into my OCD with some amazing Italian engineering and wonderfully done marketing let’s get back to the killer commute. Those Italians may be onto something to minimize their commute. They are listed as having the shortest commute in the study. Strange? Perhaps not.

Here in the states I’m just overjoyed if people remember they are supposed to stay right, except to pass. Ugh, I felt my blood pressure jump up slightly at just the thought of slow left-laners. Our commute to work, filled with tiny stresses, can build up to work against our attempts at being healthy. Check out the ways our commute can become the killer commute.