  Commuting has been a hot topic in the Bay Area in recent weeks due to the  4-day BART strike earlier this month.  Now that the unions and management have settled their worker contracts, traffic has fallen back into its more predictable patterns: rush hour generally falls between 7 – 9 AM and 4 – 7 PM, maybe longer if drivers go over a bridge or through a tunnel. With such wide windows of commuting despair, it begs the question, Can all of that driving be bad for our health?
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Yes, says New York Times writer Jane Brody, in yesterday’s piece titled “Commuting’s Hidden Costs.” Environmental impacts aside, Brody cites several studies that prove just how bad regular, excessive driving is for our physical and mental health. Even spending too much time driving around town for errands has the same negative effects, according to some studies.
Another reason to ditch the hour(s)-long drive into San Francisco and opt instead for a comfortable, shared work space like the Laptop Lounge, right here in Walnut Creek. Your heart, waistline, and cholesterol will thank you.Â
