Abbotsford, Mission highlighted in report looking into effects of long commutes
Posted February 26, 2019 7:24 am.
Last Updated February 26, 2019 7:26 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – It is probably no surprise that long commutes are linked to higher stress levels, but a new report is highlighting Abbotsford and Mission as a prime example.
Statistics Canada says both Abbotsford and Mission have a high number of commuters that tackle a long drive into a major city centre every day.
In Abbotsford, 12 per cent of commuters spend an hour or more getting to work.
“For those with a long commute by car, their average one-way commuting distance to a usual place of work was 57 kilometres,” read the report.
But those living in major city centres did not necessarily see better commute times. According to the report, 81 per cent of those who work in Vancouver and drive for more than an hour come from within the city.
Meanwhile, five per cent of those working in Vancouver commuted all the way from Chilliwack. The report found very few of the commuters with an hour-long or more drive came from cities farther away such as Squamish.
“Whether it is to avoid the busiest rush hour traffic or just to make sure they get to work on time, most car commuters with a long commuting time leave earlier in the morning than other commuters,” explained the repot. “For example, 42% of commuters with a long commuting time by car left home between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., compared with 25% of those who spent less than 60 minutes travelling to work.
The report also looked into the health impacts of commuting for more than an hour, noting it can affect commuter’s health, safety, and personal finances.
“Studies show that longer commutes are associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes, and also find that those with long commutes in private vehicles are more likely to be negatively impacted than those with long commutes using public transit.”
It also found long commutes can put a strain on family relationships and social capital. Driving for longer also puts commuters are a higher risk of being in an accident, according to the report.
The report was based on data from the 2016 Census.
