They drive as much as five hours a day on clogged roads, enduring a limbo-like existence. Theirs is a tedious life of rubber and asphalt, of lost hours and non-stop frustration. At times, their dream of having it all seems no more than a mirage. The unintended consequences of commuting add up quickly. The drive reshapes lives, siphoning off time for friends, family and fun.
Some commuters delay starting families.
Those with children worry they're absentee parents, just voices calling from some meaningless spot on the freeway. In some cases, kids must wake themselves up and get to school on their own. Often, commuters feel disconnected from both ends. They rush out of the office but arrive home too tired, too late or too jaded to chat with neighbors. Throwing a ball with their kids is the last thing they want to do.