There is nothing quite like tackling traffic in a big city to make you realize just how many people - maybe even yourself - need to enrol in anger management. Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and other big Canadian cities all have major traffic issues. The roads are crowded all day long, and during rush hours they can be a perfect nightmare. The more cars on the streets the worse the problem is, the greater the chances of accidents, and the more accumulated stress on each driver.
One obvious solution to many of the problems posed by high levels of traffic is carpooling. Sure, you could take an Etobicoke taxi and cut down on your own problems in transportation that way, but it would end up costing a lot of extra money. Carpooling, on the other hand, will help you out in many different areas.
First there is the cost of driving to and from work in downtown areas every day. Gas prices have risen substantially in Canada over the last decade, and for no good reason they spike unexpectedly every week or so. The average driver is paying double what they used to for the commute, and that can really add up over a year. If you drive with a couple of people from your condo in downtown Toronto to your work in Etobicoke or elsewhere, you can pay that much less in gas each week. You will also find you save a lot of money in general wear and tear on your vehicle too.
Carpooling can also save you quite a bit of time. Most big cities have high occupancy vehicle lanes, specially designed for residents who choose to fill their vehicles by carpooling instead of driving to work by themselves. These lanes always move faster than the others; you might arrive to work so much earlier that you have time to schedule that glycolic peel in the morning rather than the evening. And of course with someone else driving, you can take care of work and personal items during the trip.
The reason municipalities have created things like the HOV lane is to cut down on vehicle emissions, yet another reason to consider carpooling to work every day. The more cars on the road, the greater the contribution to the greenhouse gas problem and global warming. While you can't cut down on the number of vehicles running out of the Maple driving school, you can cut down on your personal carbon footprint, which in the end is really all that any of us can do.
So consider carpooling into your work every day. You will be saving yourself a lot of time and money, and doing a favour for Mother Earth too.
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