Traffic report: Weekday commuting patterns

Article: Traffic report: Weekday commuting patterns (PDF)

Objectives

• To discuss reasons for traffic congestion and explore the possible impact on the quality of life of Canadians.

Method

1. Take a quick poll of the class to find out how they got to school this morning (what mode of transportation, e.g., walk, bike, car driver, car passenger, school bus, public transit). How long did it take them to get to school? Why do some people travel long distances to school? How many experienced a traffic jam on the way to school?
2. Discuss why more people are driving cars now than in the past and why public transit use has not increased.
3. A "balanced" community is generally thought of as a self-contained, self-reliant one, within which people live, work, shop and pursue recreational activities. Is your community balanced? Discuss the repercussions of living in a community that is not balanced.
4. Survey students to determine if parents work in the neighborhood where they live or if they have to travel far to work. Discuss some of the reasons why traffic jams occur. How can traffic congestion be alleviated?
5. Discuss the pros and cons of living in a compact city. Does suburbanization contribute to traffic congestion?

Using other resources

• In particular, the "Household Environment Survey – School Edition" lets you compare your students' environmental practices with those of other Canadians and the "Enviro-Quiz" introduces environmental data, including global warming trends.

Please e-mail comments or examples of how you used this exercise in your class.