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Long Commutes Discourage Volunteerism

Posted by: Christian Peralta Madera

14 July 2007 - 7:00am

A new study demonstrates that long commutes negatively impact a community's pool of volunteers and decreases social capital.

"Last week, The Corporation for National and Community Service released a report on volunteerism in US cities."

"the study confirms that such enfranchisement is important: “…communities in which residents have high levels of attachment…are likely to have higher volunteering rates. For example, Minneapolis-St. Paul, the number one city for volunteering, also has the highest home ownership rate of all the cities included in the report.”"

"two other findings...First, there seems to be a correlation between high commute time and decreased volunteering. The study also points out that long commutes to work can drive down an area’s volunteering rate not only by limiting the time an individual has available for volunteering, but also by decreasing the time people have to interact with others at their workplace, house of worship, club, or other social network."

Full Story: Volunteerism As a Lever to Promote City Revitalization
Source: Philantromedia, July 13, 2007
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The increased attention to matters of urban design has forced the field to become alert to more aspects of the social and natural sciences, to transportation and civil engineering, water and waste management, zoning and public policy, and other areas earlier considered largely the responsibility of others.
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