The Washington Post is planning an Oct. 21 event called “Fix My Commute.” The title for this day-long set of discussions catches my attention, and I hope yours. But before various experts and advocates gather to talk about fixing your commute, I’d like to ask you: What would make it better?
It’s a personal question. At least, that’s the way travelers have taught me to think of commuting. From years of reading your letters about travel troubles, I’ve learned that commuters don’t see our transportation system the way planners do. Planners look down on a big unfolded map with highways, secondary roads, transit lines, street grids and multimodal hubs.
Many commuters take a GPS view. The transportation system is the line from Point A to Point B that they move along each day.
For the individual commuter, a reinvented commute might feature a highway drive guaranteed to be free of safety hazards. Or it might be about creating a bike lane that provides a cyclist with a safer trip to work. A transit rider who encounters congestion at the fare vending machine might fix the commute by paying the fare via smartphone.
As always, feel free to comment on this posting. Even better, tell your story via the form below. Explain how you commute, how long it takes, how you survive and your ideas for fixing your daily ride. Send photos and video, too, using the Instagram hashtag #americaanswers. You’re a crucial part of the conversation about the future of U.S. transportation. So send your thoughts.
The form included here is closed to new entries. If you have something to share on the topic, please email the author of this article. Thank you.