Top 5 cities with the most unhealthy commutes

[Trazalca]

~cough-cough~

Guess where I live? (http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/103291/The-Most-Unhealthy-Commutes-in-America)


Behind The Numbers

To figure out which region is faring worst, we looked at three issues facing the country's 25 largest metropolitan areas.

First, we examined year-round particle pollution levels based on rankings by the American Lung Association, which used air monitoring data that states submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2003-05. To estimate the time people spend in rush hour traffic, we used the Texas Transportation Institute's 2005 Urban Mobility Report, which calculated annual delays per traveler during peak hours in urban areas nationwide.

Finally, to get a sense of how dangerous the roads are, we compiled the number of per-capita fatal car accidents each region had in 2005 using the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Topping the list were Riverside, Calif., followed by Atlanta and Los Angeles. Rounding out the top five were Houston and Washington, D.C., which tied.


Wow. We beat Los Angeles. Should I be proud? :(

[Bill_the_Pony]

As of tonight, it seems Minneapolis, MN is the most unhealthy city to commute in. :shakehead:

Disasters aside, they are on the money with Riverside, California. Riverside is the asshole of California, with clogged freeways, insane drivers.....an utterly hateful experience.

[spammityspam]

Austin's traffic isn't physically unhealthy, but it has upped my violent thoughts some. In addition to the fact that we won't expand our highway because it would "take away from the small-town feel" (of the capitol city of one of the most-populated states in the Union...) we have potholes the size of small dogs about every ten feet. When we're congested, we're really congested. When we're not congested, we're breaking our axles on the four-inch-deep deathtraps in the middle of the damn highway, which makes us congested. That and the highway is mysteriously shut down at completely random, unposted signs almost every week in different places. It makes me want to run over politicians, but my fucked-up suspension probably couldn't take it. Thwarted again!

[Lavoruis]

Remember what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.
Well , not in Jakester case.

[Violanthe]

Good to see that no where near me is on the list. Still there are some buses that put me on the edge of sanity during rush hour - that can't be healthy

[hawklord]

..we have potholes the size of small dogs about every ten feet...
I've heard of the US potholes before. How come the highway maintenance folks don't fill them in? Surely that's their mission in life?

In the UK, you pay around £125 ($250) a year to buy a car "tax disk" and that money pays for a lot of the road maintenance. Harmful potholes are very rare, over here. Folks that have problems are usually going too fast for the class of road, or not looking where they're bloody going!

I know US people might think that that tax system is socialist/communist crap, but it's cheaper than paying for new tyres & suspension, or buying damage insurance.

[spammityspam]

People in the US hate taxes and so we vote for leaders that promise tax cuts every thirty minutes. We don't think about the fact that taxes do not just go to pay for politicians' spa days, they also pay for highways. This is partially politicians' faults for throwing huge chunks of money at some very silly things, true, but it might also be our fault for demanding budget miracles and reinforcing a system where the constituency rules all and the constituency is just a loosely-confederated horde of special interests.

Personally, I like socialist leanings, though I'm not sure how seamlessly they'd integrate here. For one thing, I think that even the taxes would be cheaper than the broken axles and tire blowouts that haunt my dreams.

[Bill_the_Pony]

I was talking the other day about this, and how Canada is a prime example of higher taxes, but a higher quality of life. But then, that's what...25 million people?....as opposed to....a few hundred million and growing, all with VERY loud and opposing viewpoints?

It would be easier to move. Seriously.

[spammityspam]

Yes, but it's cold up there.

[DarkJedi]

I would think Houston tops that list, Traz...or at the very least ties with your city. Atlanta and Houston are seemingly mirror copies of each other as far as city grid, traffic, freeway infrastructure..

God knows I hate our traffic situation. I doubt Katy(I-10 West of downtown H-Town) will ever have a clear freeway. It's always under construction...and probably will be under construction until mankind dies out in some very obvious way.