Feeling the pain and joys of commuting »

Yes some of these commuting problems fall on state governments. But at the same time there are many other sites of responsibility - our employers and companies for example - who could offer their staff the chance to work from home. Long hours commuting to and from work can generate fear, distrust and depression and can change the way people interact with their families and work colleagues, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found. However, the study also found commuting on public transport can be a positive social experience and give people valuable personal time to dream, relax and meditate, away from the responsibilities of work and home life. The study, titled Commuting Life, was conducted by Dr David Bissell at the ANU School of Sociology and examined how commuting affects people and their lives rather than the types of transport used. "For a lot of people, commuting is really constraining their freedoms to do things," Dr Bissell said. He said over time, journeys to and from work change the way that people act towards others, their tolerance levels, what they desire from their work and home life, and can have an impact on long-term plans.