Transit Life: How Commuting Is Transforming Our Cities

by David Bissell

An exploration of the ways that everyday life in the city is defined by commuting. We spend much of our lives in transit to and from work. Although we might dismiss our daily commute as a wearying slog, we rarely stop to think about the significance of these daily journeys. In  Transit Life , David Bissell explores how everyday life in cities is increasingly defined by commuting. Examining the overlooked events and encounters of the commute, Bissell shows that the material experiences of our daily journeys are transforming life in our cities. The commute is a time where some of the most pressing tensions of contemporary life play out, striking at the heart of such issues as our work-life balance; our relationships with others; our sense of place; and our understanding of who we are. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork with commuters, journalists, transit advocates, policymakers, and others in Sydney, Australia, Transit Life takes a holistic perspective to change how we think about commuting. Rather than arguing that transport infrastructure investment alone can solve our commuting problems, Bissell explores the more subtle but powerful forms of social change that commuting creates. He examines the complex politics of urban mobility through multiple dimensions, including the competencies that commuters develop over time; commuting dispositions and the social life of the commute; the multiple temporalities of commuting; the experience of commuting spaces, from footpath to on-ramp, both physical and digital; the voices of commuting, from private rants to drive-time radio; and the interplay of materialities, ideas, advocates, and organizations in commuting infrastructures.

Genres: Urbanism, Nonfiction, Sociology

266 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2018

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel a lot better about my commute compared to what is going on in Greater Sydney and the world. I was surprised that it focusses on Sydney but apparently we are now the worst commuting city in the world. Inspiring stories of time well spent and crushing stories of existential dread are part of this exploration of the inherent decision making and daily reality/unreality of multi-modal commuting in a modern and poorly planned city. A book which makes you think about the psychology of life decisions and how we sometimes doggedly stick to routines which may or may not be under our control.

[Maarten Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Transit Life provides a bottom-up account of commuting practices in Sydney. The on site social accounts provided in the book closes the gap between the commuter in Sydney and the reader in an almost intimate manner. Sometimes a bit much agency perspective and side steps into philosopher quotes, but overall I look back on a Pleasant read. Good luck to all Sydney Commuters, travel life provided you with a face.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting account of stories about commuting. Very authentic description of each case, showing what is broken about supercommuting. I would have appreciated nore structure and focus at times, and more clear overall message and summary. Otherwise, it is a unique work and I enjoyed reading it.

[Tamara]

Cool.