Taking the Train Instead of Your Car
Why are there plans to pour $13 billion into the high-speed train system? Isn’t this an antiquated mode of transport that was better suited to the dusty, dark ages of travel than to today’s lightning fast world? The 80 MPH passenger trains and 130 MPH bullet trains bust that myth. Today’s trains are efficient and fast; they are also much more eco-friendly than either cars or airplanes. Taking the train can help save tons of greenhouse emissions from being released into the air and can help relieve congestion on the streets and roads. The engines that brought us steaming into the last century may be just the ticket for helping us conserve in the new one.
But taking the train doesn’t just benefit the environment. You get to enjoy the advantages as well. Researchers from the Polytechnic University Department of Humanities & Social Sciences studied the effects of traveling by train compared to by car among New Jersey commuters making the trip to Manhattan. The researchers found that train commuters got more exercise and experienced less stress than their car-driving counterparts. Those who rode the rails walked about 30 percent more steps during the workday. More than 40 percent of train commuters walked 10,000 steps a day or more. Less than 15 percent of drivers walked as much. Maybe it was all that good walking, but train riders reported significantly less stress and more positive moods.
If you are going to make the switch to commuting by train, it is a good idea to do a trial run if you’re not familiar with the system. Go to the train station and see how long it takes you to get there. If you have to drive to the train, is your parking free? Do you need a pass? Where can you check schedules or order tickets? Larger rail systems typically have websites that have all of this information. If you are going to be commuting more than half of the time, consider buying monthly parking and train passes to save money.
Once all the details about your route and cost are taken care of, plan to make the most of your commute. One of the advantages is that you can let someone else take over, leaving you free to work, read, listen to music, or just relax before and after work. Bring a notebook or netbook, smartphone, mp3 player, and some “old-fashioned” standbys, like a book, magazine, and snack. This can be your time to check emails, respond to personal correspondence, update Facebook, meditate, or make notes for your upcoming day. Make the most of the time; you could be sitting in traffic in your car or doing your work on the train.
Commuting can be stressful, whether you’re doing it by train, car, bus, plane, or bicycle. Plan for the usual delays or mishaps, like missing your train and having a backup route. Could you take another train? Wait for the next one? Call a friend for a ride? Work from home? Walk? Take a bus or cab? Drive your car today? There are options; don’t feel tied to the train. The goal is to make your commute less stressful, not more.