Instead of changing the way we move to improve traffic congestions, why not change the time we all work at?

Timing is one of the main causes why the traffic is always more congested both in the morning, usually between 7AM to 9AM, and in the afternoon, between 5PM to 7PM. Universities, schools, banks, supermarkets, gyms, and businesses begin and end their day at the same time. Traffic problems are causing chaos in overcrowded cities. Have we ever considered the possibility of changing our traditional business hours to solve traffic congestions?  

The private and public sectors are collapsing at an alarming rate year after year. Traffic congestions are forcing governments and businesses to invest more in parking lots, without understanding the core of the issue.

It’s physically and practically unproductive for organizations to clear more land to make room for more vehicles. Houses, supermarkets, and businesses usually surround roads. All of which makes the idea of expanding them logically impossible. Organizations should address traffic congestions from a different perspective. They should consider an alternative option: to change the traditional work and study hours.

NEW SOLUTIONS ARE USUALLY HARD TO DIGEST

This new solution might be hard to embrace at first. But when we stop to analyze and discover how this solution can benefit traffic congestions, it sounds much more attractive.

Universities and businesses typically open at the same time, between 8am and 9am. What if colleges begin welcoming students between 10am and 11am? This would allow universities to not interfere in the high traffic periods mornings usually bring with them.

This would limit the time students and faculty spend on the roads. It will also enable them to make better use of this wasted time. Students will then benefit from this extra time from not being stuck in traffic.

A small change like this in universities can lead to big changes in the world. If colleges around the world begin implementing this small change, roads worldwide will become more organized. This solution presents a big opportunity for cities and countries to effectively manage traffic congestions.

At the end of the day, businesses, colleges, and people themselves will be the most benefited from this solution. We will all benefit from having more time on our day by avoiding being stuck in traffic. Consequently, we will start to adapt our routines to different time frames and tackle everyday problems through new lenses.

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTIONS

Governments will also benefit from this change. More than often road conditions suffer from the exceeding vehicle capacity traveling in them on a daily basis. This will allow governments to re-direct the money spent on fixing roads, and invest it in more urgent necessities.

Even though traffic congestion might be unavoidable, there are certain actions that can minimize them. However, traffic congestions should not be viewed as something negative. The flow of vehicles and people through the city generally represents that the overall economy is doing well.

With this innovative solution, organizations would have more parking lots available without having the necessity of investing more in them. People will feel less stressed and will become more productive. This method will eliminate or at least lighten traffic congestions. Headaches such as accidents, late arrivals, and less productivity of people living in these overcrowded cities will be minimized.

This picture illustrates what everyday 8AM traffic in overcrowded cities looks like. There is no way the government can expand these roads by creating more lanes. Any “logical” solution is simply unviable, as we need to be very wise when trying to deal with traffic congestions.

ARE INCENTIVES A GOOD START?

Even though this alternative is as simple as it sounds, it’s a solution that hasn’t been considered before.

Universities should be the ones leading the way with this change. Although it poses a huge change in universities’, faculty’s, and students’ traditional schedules, their initiative will represent that their heart is in the right place. By changing their opening hours, universities will be sending the message that they care about the environment, about optimizing government spending and maximizing both faculty’s and students’ productivity levels.

Yet, such change could represent a huge challenge for universities’ operations. Governments will be the most benefited from this change. They should get involve and start incentivizing colleges to implement such change. Incentives such as tax breaks and further funding in their advancement and research department would be ideal.

These incentives will create a huge impact on governments, students, professors, universities themselves, and the environment. Universities and surroundings will be free of traffic. The environment will look much healthier and greener. Every person will be more motivated to keep doing their part.

These new habits will bring amazing positive effects to the cities across the globe.

Time is our most valuable resource. How we decide to spend it will make a massive difference in our lives. Rather than spending meaningful time stuck in traffic, why not use it to better ourselves, practice our hobbies, pursue our passions, build upon our relationships or simply get more work done?

Our time on this Earth is limited – and we all ought to treat it that way.