Sustainable Happiness & Your Daily Commute

“Sustainable happiness is the pursuit of happiness that does not exploit other people, the environment or future generations.” (O’Brien, 2005)

Sustainable happiness refers to a happiness where our needs as individuals are met without causing harm to ourselves, the environment, or other people. There has been great debate as to whether the pursuit of happiness is a healthy pursuit - as it is the pursuit of shallow happiness has led to inequality and environmental degradation of the planet.

Is it possible to create a world where the needs of individuals are met without creating a negative environmental impact?

One point of focus that has surfaced in recent years is our means of transportation. A study done in Texas observed that participants enjoyed their daily commute the least out of all their daily tasks. Though, according to the US Census Bureau, less than 2% of Texans commute by means other than motorized vehicles. These findings suggest that most people are driving to work – and unhappily so, despite the luxury and convenience of driving a motorized vehicle.

However, there is good news: a statistics Canada study found that workers who walk or cycle to work rather than using motorized transportation were more likely to enjoy their daily commute. This means there’s hope that if we continue to shape our cities around active transportation, people will find more enjoyment throughout their day. In addition to greater enjoyment: choosing alternative forms of transportation is a green option that helps us lower our ecological foot print and contribute to the sustainable happiness of our community.

Recently, The City of Edmonton has made an effort to include more bicycle lanes in our streets. This is a part of an initiative to create more active living infrastructure in response to a physical inactivity epidemic and a growing need for options such as active transportation. Wan’t to contribute? Find an alternate means of transportation for your daily commute to work or school this week. If you can walk or cycle, try finding a route which you can actively transport to your destination. If this is unavailable, try taking the bus and get off a few stops before you arrive at your destination and walk the rest of the way.

Later, reflect on the experience. How did you feel after? Was it a major inconvenience? How much money did you save by choosing active transportation today? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!