Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Commuting
Transport
Cycle commuters most likely to get to work ‘on time and ready to go’Bike commuting (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Dave Atkinson:Flickr) 02

Cycle commuters most likely to get to work ‘on time and ready to go’

Active forms of transport more likely to leave people feeling energised
by Alex Bowden
Wed, Jan 04, 2017 15:10
13

Bus riders are the most likely to arrive late for work and drivers have the lowest odds of feeling energised when they get there, according to a recent study. In contrast, cyclists have the highest odds of being both energised and punctual.

These were the findings of research carried out at McGill University in Montreal. The study, On time and ready to go, involved analysis of commuters’ punctuality and energy levels.

Researchers looked at the commuting patterns of the students, staff, and faculty at McGill University, surveying 5,599 people at the campus in 2013.

Participants were asked how they commuted (walking, cycling, driving, or by public transport); whether they arrived on time; and how they felt when they got there. Distance from campus, the duration of each commute and the weather were also taken into account, and this being Canada, separate figures were given for snowy days and sunny days.

Stress of commuting leads to burnout, according to new research

CityLab reports that the researchers found active forms of transport were more likely to leave people feeling energised.

Drivers felt energised 17 per cent of the time on snowy days and 41 per cent of the time on sunny days. Those who took public transport said they felt energised 19 per cent of the time on snowy days and 38 per cent of the time on sunny days.

In contrast, walkers felt energised 29 per cent of the time on snowy days and 55 per cent of the time on sunny days – and cycling was better still. Cyclists reported feeling energised 70 per cent of the time on snowy days and 82 per cent of the time on sunny days.

It should be noted at this point that walkers were more likely to be younger students, while drivers tended to be older staff members. Cyclists and those who took public transport were somewhere in between.

Could your daily cycle commute be saving your life?

As far as punctuality went, snowy days affected everyone to some degree. 32 per cent of cyclists said their commute caused them to be late when it snowed, as did 34 per cent of walkers, 41 per cent of drivers and 42 per cent of those who took public transport.

However, only three per cent of cyclists said their commute negatively affected their punctuality on sunny days, compared to eight per cent of walkers, 15 per cent of drivers and 19 per cent of those who took public transport.

The researchers concluded: “Overall, this study provides evidence that satisfaction with travel mode is associated with higher odds of feeling energized and being punctual. With these findings in mind, policy makers should consider developing strategies that aim to increase the mode satisfaction of commuters. Encouraging the habit of commuting by bicycle may also lead to improved performance at work or school.”

academic study
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

Add new comment

13 comments

Avatar
kil0ran | 7 years ago
0 likes

Usually I split my commute and cycle the last 5-10 miles to work. Pretty much guaranteed to arrive on time unless the puncture fairy visits (twice in three years of cycling to work).

When I drive the whole was to work I've no control over arrival time and I absolutely hate sitting in traffic, even with Radio 3 to entertain me, and I arrive at work miserable, tired and demotivated. Completely the opposite on the bike, even if I've had the odd close pass or SMIDSY moment.

Maybe that's what's behind these figures - all those close passes and confrontations get your adrenaline levels up ready to perform 4

Avatar
Edgeley | 7 years ago
0 likes

I tend to work from home, and I miss my former 40 minutes on a bike to get to the office.  Except when it is icy, of course.

 

On the other hand, I can treat myself to an hour or so of pedalling in the afternoon and still be more efficient than an office based person. 

Avatar
Daveyraveygravey replied to Edgeley | 7 years ago
0 likes

Edgeley wrote:

I tend to work from home, and I miss my former 40 minutes on a bike to get to the office.  Except when it is icy, of course.

 

I am lucky enough to live near the South Downs so can choose to ride on or off road to get to work.  Whenever it is 3 degrees or lower, I go off road; this morning was gorgeous; at about -2 all those muddy deep puddles you have to go round or ride through really slowly you can just attack. Frosted ground makes a beautiful noise as mtb tyres roll over it...

I'm discovering the WORST surface ever though is a muddy track frequented by horses; once those 2 inch deep horse-hoof shaped divots freeze it is like pave made by a psycho!  I swerved a climb this morning as I thought it would make me late and went along the bottom, but it had had tons of horses over it when the mud was gloopy and this had frozen so for the best part of a mile I was  bouncing about like an idiot and was late anyway...

Avatar
samuri | 7 years ago
3 likes

I like how consistant cycling to work is. After many years cycling the same route, I know within a couple of minutes what time I'll arrive, it's almost guaranteed (mechanicals not-withstanding) and is largely unaffected by the weather, even snow..

in the car over the same-ish route, it can vary wildly from day to day depending on things going on on the nearby motorway, how many dickheads have decided to crash this morning, whether there's a millimeter of snow on the ground etc etc. 

Avatar
drosco | 7 years ago
3 likes

I do ten miles each way. For me it's less about getting prepared for work, more about switching off after it. Nothing better than 45 mins guilt free riding at the end of the day to draw a line under it.

Avatar
brooksby replied to drosco | 7 years ago
1 like

drosco wrote:

I do ten miles each way. For me it's less about getting prepared for work, more about switching off after it. Nothing better than 45 mins guilt free riding at the end of the day to draw a line under it.

And don't forget when you decide that you might have to take the scenic route to get home ...

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

drosco wrote:

I do ten miles each way. For me it's less about getting prepared for work, more about switching off after it. Nothing better than 45 mins guilt free riding at the end of the day to draw a line under it.

And don't forget when you decide that you might have to take the scenic route to get home ...

Or take a slight detour to pick up some shopping or meet mates for a pint, etc. All the flexibility that a car should - but often can't - offer but without the cost, the congestion, the sedentary posture, etc.

Avatar
brooksby | 7 years ago
4 likes

I had to get the bus to commute, for a few days before Xmas. I don't know how people can do it regularly- no idea if or when the bus will turn up, having to allow a generous margin of error, forget it unless you have spare time to play with.

I've driven to work once in the last year and it was an f-ing nightmare! Took me twenty minutes to cover a distance i know that I can cycle or walk in a couple of minutes.

Driving, or riding on a bus, in rush hour traffic in the city, feels like being a supertanker compared to a bike being a jet ski - hemmed in, no room for manoeuvre, no real control over your own journey.

Avatar
congokid replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

Driving, or riding on a bus, in rush hour traffic in the city, feels like being a supertanker compared to a bike being a jet ski - hemmed in, no room for manoeuvre, no real control over your own journey.

That probably explains the frequency of passenger attacks on PT staff and road rage amongst drivers stuck in traffic.

Avatar
mitsky replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

I had to get the bus to commute, for a few days before Xmas. I don't know how people can do it regularly- no idea if or when the bus will turn up, having to allow a generous margin of error, forget it unless you have spare time to play with.

I've driven to work once in the last year and it was an f-ing nightmare! Took me twenty minutes to cover a distance i know that I can cycle or walk in a couple of minutes.

Driving, or riding on a bus, in rush hour traffic in the city, feels like being a supertanker compared to a bike being a jet ski - hemmed in, no room for manoeuvre, no real control over your own journey.

Whilst I love cycling to get around https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/ is very usefull for bus times at each stop.

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to mitsky | 7 years ago
0 likes

mitsky wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I had to get the bus to commute, for a few days before Xmas. I don't know how people can do it regularly- no idea if or when the bus will turn up, having to allow a generous margin of error, forget it unless you have spare time to play with.

I've driven to work once in the last year and it was an f-ing nightmare! Took me twenty minutes to cover a distance i know that I can cycle or walk in a couple of minutes.

Driving, or riding on a bus, in rush hour traffic in the city, feels like being a supertanker compared to a bike being a jet ski - hemmed in, no room for manoeuvre, no real control over your own journey.

Whilst I love cycling to get around https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/ is very usefull for bus times at each stop.

It's useful if you're in London! And there are various other apps which also do real-time info (e.g. Citymapper is great).

While public transport in the capital is often overcrowded, can be expensive, and buses are slow, London is streets ahead (ha!) compared with most of the country. Still better to cycle in most cases though smiley

Avatar
PaulBox | 7 years ago
4 likes

After a coffee surely...

Avatar
flathunt | 7 years ago
7 likes

Can't argue with this, as soon as I get to work I'm ready to go

 

 

home.

Latest Comments