A recent survey of the time that people spend in traffic shows how the mental and emotional health of citizens in the capitals of some countries, including Bucharest, affects.
Romanians are wasting a lot of time in traffic on the way to and from the service. Photo shutterstock
The highest daily commute rates were reported in Lagos – Nigeria (83.4%), Warsaw and Krakow – Poland (83%) and Prague – Czech Republic (82.4%).
Almost half of the respondents said that their daily shuttle lasts at least one hour, with notable peaks in Romania (58%) and Nigeria (52%).
In all the countries questioned, almost half of the respondents make shuttles over 20 km daily, the Czechs, Romanians and Germans covering the longest distances in general.
Regarding the costs of the shuttle, Portugal, Czech Republic and Romania are distinguished by the highest weight of users who report reduced monthly costs (below 80 euros).
From the point of view of the stress that people feel while they make the shuttle to and from the service, 44% of the respondents in Bucharest say that they make the shuttle over 20 km daily, of which 6% travel at least 60 km in total.
Another 38% of the respondents agree that they feel stress when they do the commute with the public transport, while 30% do not agree or are totally in disagreement.
“Among the most important factors that contribute to the stress related to the shuttle in Bucharest are the excessive agglomeration, the cleaning of the means of public transport and the road agglomeration”shows the results of the survey conducted by Bolt.
According to him, 76.4% of Bucharest respondents make the shuttle daily or 4-6 times a week, the road to work being, therefore, part of the daily routine for most of them.
Moreover, 58% of the people surveyed say they spend more than an hour doing the shuttle every day, and of them, 9% say they spend over two hours on the road, which adds a significant tension in terms of their time and energy.
Personal cars dominate but come with emotional costs
In Bucharest, 42% of the respondents use the personal car as the main means to get to work, almost as many who use the means of public transport (45%). Those who allow themselves to do the shuttle by walking are only 6%.
However, even if personal cars are a common choice, they come in a package with emotional costs: 41.51% of Bucharest say they feel stressed when they drive to work, while 55% of them believe that, on the contrary, the personal car helps them to reduce their stress level.
The main factors that raise the stress levels of Bucharest who use the car for the shuttle are traffic jams, insane drivers and difficulty finding a parking place.
“It is not surprising to see opposite appreciation of stress in terms of personal mobility. On the one hand, the journey during peak hours can lead to frustration during the act of driving. On the other hand, having a car available at any time increases the feeling of autonomy, allowing people to travel to any destination whenever they want. Regarding mental health and other modes of transport, the effect of active travel is obvious. It has not only proved that the act of traveling itself leads to a better mental health through physical exercise, but also that living in areas where opportunities are accessible at walking distances or bicycle encourages participation in additional activities and promotes richer experiences in what the cities have to offer. “said Dr. Jaime-Siza-Parra, assistant professor in the Transport Analysis Department and Data Science of Utrecht University.
The shuttle that leads not only to destination but also to a healthier mind
Therefore, not at all surprising, the Romanian respondents who recorded the lowest levels of stress, but also the highest levels of satisfaction were the ones who do the shuttle walking, by bicycle or with the rented scooters.
66% of Bucharest respondents say that work to work significantly reduces their stress levels.
As for the ways in which stress could be diminished, Bucharest people believe that they would be shorter shuttle times, rarer traffic, as well as more reliable public transport.
“The shuttle of at least one hour is nothing foreign to many Romanians in general, not necessarily for Bucharest. Therefore, rethinking how we travel through the city could have a deep impact on mental well -being, productivity and quality of life. The results of the survey indicate a need to rethink urban mobility. As cities are facing infrastructure challengesdurability and public health, facilitating healthier and lower stress levels could significantly improve the quality of our lives. Either through several shared mobility options, better infrastructure for active mobility, or by hybrid options, such as “park-and-ride” systems, it is clear: the way we move is closely related to how we feel”, Said Maria Niculescu Aron, General Manager Bolt Romania.
