THE STRESS OF COMMUTING1

In today‘s modern world, people are constantly looking for ways to avoid stress and improve their lifestyle. Too much stress can lead to a variety of illnesses from headaches to high blood pressure. Simple things, such as driving to and from work on a daily basis, can be such a stressful experience that many people are left feeling totally exhausted. Cars can give normally peaceful people a feeling of power that can make them more aggressive.

Fortunately, there are various means of public transport to choose from within modern towns and cities. Sometimes, all we need to do is to change a few of our longstanding habits in order to discover a much more comfortable way of life. By simply planning journeys, not only can we save time and money, but we can also reduce stress levels dramatically. By using public transport everybody wins. Most towns and cities are wellcovered by bus, tram and metro services. So, next time you see your neighbor or colleague waiting at a bus stop as you drive by, don‘t feel sorry for him because he will, no doubt, arrive at the office much earlier than you as you will still be fighting to find a parking space.

Public transport systems have improved considerably in recent years and there is now more focus on environmentally friendly forms. For example, old tram systems have been reintroduced into many European cities, making movement across large areas much faster and ‗cleaner‘. While making use of these services, you are also helping against increasing levels of pollution.

Or you might consider another way of getting to work. Carpooling2 is a relatively new and convenient system when several people arrange to share one private car to get to work. And some companies have already introduced a plan where those who carpool get preferential parking in the company garage.

Another way of reducing levels of both stress and pollution is an introduction of an environmentally friendly network of cycle tracks. The aim of building cycle tracks is to motivate people to use their bicycles instead of their cars.

1 commuting [kəˈmjuːtɪŋ] ежедневные поездки на работу в город из пригорода и обратно / штодзѐнныя паездкі на працу ў горад з прыгарада і назад

2 to carpool [ˈkɑːpuːl] ездить на одной машине, подвозить по очереди / ездзіць на адной машыне, падвозіць па чарзе