Drive, Ride, Walk...or Teleport?

We all need to get around. For work or for pleasure, so much of the human experience involved the need to get from one place to another. Where we live and where need to create a sort of radius, and it’s within that radius that we spend so much of our time on this planet. That circle might be just a few miles or hours worth of driving. How we move, interact, and enjoy that time is a good indicator of our quality of life. 

For those who choose or are forced to drive, satisfaction appears to be lacking. A recent study reports that pins motorists’ hope on a technology that is still a long, long ways off. Teleportation, the sort you may have seen in sci-fi shows like Star Trek, was offered as a hypothetical alternative for drivers in a study that includes respondents who traveled by car, bike, or on foot. Drivers, unsurprisingly, were by far the demographic least likely to enjoy their time on the move. A full 76% said they would have rather teleport to work than drive. That may not be surprising until you compare it to the satisfaction of other commuters. Only 27% of pedestrians and 34% of cyclists were willing to give up their human-powered transportation. 

There are a lot of possible reasons for non-motorized commuters to get so much more satisfaction than drivers or even those using public transportation. One of the most popular motivations is physical fitness, with walkers and bikers putting a value on the health benefits derived from going on their own power. While these modes of transportation may not be the fastest option to go from Point A to Point B, but they can actually be more time-efficient if those minutes in motion helps to cover the time that may otherwise be spent getting to the gym, exercising, and getting home. 

There’s also a mental health aspect, too. Not only does physical activity help manage stress, it’s an additional few minutes to relax and spend time with thoughts. Commuters spend their time thinking, which may help them process the day’s events on their own terms. Additionally, commutes provide an opportunity to enjoy things like favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks. That could play a big role in developing non-motorized transportation as a habit; humans react exceedingly well to positive reinforcement like rewards. It may be that commuters have developed an immediate satisfaction associated with their daily commute. 

Drivers experience a tremendous amount of stress, largely due to the fact that so much of their journey is completely outside of their control. Traffic jams, unpredictable drivers, poor weather and road conditions all influence the physiological reactions of any driver, no matter how experienced. In fact, a 2004 study found that drivers tend to exhibit higher stress indicators than fighter pilots. 

There are more perks to non-motorized transportation that goes beyond carbon emissions and traffic issues. What the study shows is that going by foot or by bike adds value, satisfaction, and joy to our lives and our adventures within our day-to-day radius. We find physical and mental benefits and form a closer connection to our community by truly experiencing it, not just speeding by. 

Do you commute by bike or on foot? How far is your daily trip? Let us know in the comments and leave your top tips on how to develop a healthy habit!