From: Nejako, Henry (FTA)
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 1:51 PM
Subject: Transit riders get fit, stay relaxed [Atlanta Journal-Constitution article reported by Mass Transit Magazine]

Transit riders get fit, stay relaxed

by Steve Visser

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

February 11, 2013

Michael Burns blows past traffic for half of his commute — it is just the first 30 minutes that can leave him stressed out.

He spends that much time going 10 miles on Georgia 400 to the North Springs MARTA station. That half-hour journey to catch the Red Line to the Peachtree Center station, he said, undercuts almost all the anti-stress benefits of travel by train.

“All it takes is five minutes of 400 to make it bad… you’re going to be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic,” the 37-year-old said. “It gets really stressful when you are two minutes away, people are stuck in the shoulder lane and the train leaves in five minutes.

“Once you’re on the train, it is pretty low stress.”

Researchers have documented links between personal health and public transit. Riders benefit from stress reduction and increased exercise because they do a lot more walking than just to the garage. Riders said on the train or bus they did everything from knit to watch videos. Occasionally some strike up friendships.