Even commuters have got soul

(with apologies to Neal Young)

The New Yorker has a long piece about commuting behavior, "There and Back Again: The soul of the commuter," and the Washington Post reports similarly, in "Your Car + Your Commute = A Visit to Your Doctor," subtitled "Worried About the Toll Your Workday Drive Is Taking on Your Car? The Wear on Your Body Might Be Even Worse."

From the article:

As a consequence, more drivers will probably suffer the health effects of a commuter lifestyle, researchers and doctors said. "You tell someone they need to exercise or go to physical therapy, but how can they? They leave at 5 a.m. and get home at 7 or 8 p.m. at night," said Robert G. Squillante, an orthopedic surgeon in Fredericksburg who has treated patients for back pain and other commuting-related issues.

He said constant road vibrations and sitting in the same position for a long time is bad for the neck and spine and puts special pressure on the bottom disc in the lower back, the one most likely to deteriorate over the years.

Meanwhile, I bike or walk to work.

The New Yorker article quotes Robert Putnam, who says for every 10% increase in commute (by driving most likely) there is a corresponding 10% decrease in the amount of social connections. This kind of confirms my belief that the farther you live from the core of the center city the more you don't like it, and the less you are willing to contribute your time and energy in making it a better place.

And yes, we need to improve the schools. But no, we don't need Olive Garden and TGI Friday's to make DC a better place. (One of the comments on the Frozen Tropics blog suggests these kinds of "upscale" restaurants to help make the Florida Market a better place. I sometimes rue that I don't get many comments on this blog. OTOH, I guess it's a kind of blessing.)