Meet The ‘Super Commuters’ Who Spend Up To 6 Hours A Day On The Road | Megyn Kelly TODAY

Summary

The video script explores the growing issue of 'super commuting' in the United States, where individuals like Bernadette Price endure a three-hour commute daily due to the high cost of living near their workplaces. Price, who works at the San Francisco University Medical Center, is a prime example of the 3% of Americans who spend over 90 minutes commuting to and from work. The script highlights the struggle of essential workers, such as cops, firefighters, and teachers, who are forced to live far from their jobs due to housing costs, while tech giants profit immensely. The conversation also touches on the efforts to find affordable housing solutions and the potential impact of innovative transportation ideas like Elon Musk's proposed 'Hyperloop'.

Takeaways

• 🚇 Commuting long hours is becoming a more common phenomenon known as 'super commuting'.
• 🏥 Bernadette Price, a healthcare worker in San Francisco, endures a three-hour commute daily due to the high cost of living in the city.
• 💸 The cost of living in San Francisco is so high that even low-income housing is unaffordable for Bernadette, who earns $64,000 a year.
• 👨‍👦 Bernadette's 13-year-old son feels sad about not being able to see his mother in the mornings due to her long commute.
• 🌆 Bernadette wakes up at 3:00 AM and often leaves home before sunrise, returning only after sunset.
• 📈 The median home value in San Francisco is $1.293 million, which is a significant factor in why people are super commuting.
• 🏘️ In comparison to San Francisco, the median home value in Stockton is significantly lower at $274,000, prompting people to live further away.
• 📊 Super commuting is on the rise in 40 out of 50 states, with double-digit increases between 2010 and 2015.
• 🤔 There is a debate about implementing additional taxes to fund affordable housing, with some people resisting the idea.
• 🚄 Elon Musk has proposed a 'hyperloop' super rail that could drastically reduce travel times, but it is yet to materialize.
• 🌟 Essential workers like cops, firefighters, and teachers are among those most affected by the need to super commute.

Q & A

What is the phenomenon of 'super commuting' as mentioned in the script?

Super commuting refers to the situation where individuals spend over 90 minutes each way commuting to and from work, often due to the high cost of living in proximity to their workplace.

How long is Bernadette Price's commute from her home to the San Francisco University Medical Center?

Bernadette Price's commute is three hours each way, totaling six hours of travel daily, not including her actual work hours.

Why does Bernadette Price have to commute such a long distance?

Bernadette Price has to commute a long distance because living near her workplace in San Francisco is too expensive.

What is the cost of living near Bernadette's workplace in San Francisco, according to the script?

The cost of living near Bernadette's workplace is so high that a studio apartment in a shady area would cost $4,500 per month.

What is the median home value in San Francisco, as stated in the script?

The median home value in San Francisco is $1.293 million.

How does Bernadette's son feel about not being able to see his mom in the mornings?

Bernadette's son feels kind of sad because he wants to spend more time with her, but her long commute prevents that.

What percentage of Americans are considered 'super commuters' according to the script?

3% of all Americans are now considered super commuters.

What is the situation in Stockton where Bernadette lives, in terms of super commuting?

In Stockton, where Bernadette lives, the percentage of super commuters is higher at 8%.

What is the median home value in Stockton, as compared to San Francisco?

In Stockton, the median home value is significantly lower at $274,000, compared to almost $1.3 million in San Francisco.

What is the impact of the high cost of housing on essential workers like cops, firefighters, and teachers?

The high cost of housing is forcing essential workers to either commute long distances or be priced out of living near their workplaces, which can affect their quality of life and potentially the services they provide.

What is the proposed solution mentioned in the script to address the issue of affordable housing?

One proposed solution mentioned in the script is to implement an extra tax on everyone's purchase to pay for affordable housing, although this idea is met with resistance from those who do not want to pay additional taxes.