The Daily Grind: A Rhizomatic Approach to Narratives of Managing Commuter Stress During Traffic Congestion in Metro Manila

Abstract

Robust literature on commuter stress has shown the multiple impact of daily commuting in people's lives. Framed within a rhizomatic approach to narratives, we analyzed stories of 11 working and 9 student Filipino commuters by looking at the ways they act on or reconstruct themselves to manage stress. In urban Metro Manila, our findings showed three narrative “stress entryways”: getting caught by the wave, seating privileges, and stuck in transit. Theoretical and practical implications of findings on commuter well-being (e.g., keeping emotions in, releasing tensions), technologies of the “fit” commuter, and enriching conversations in traffic psychology and urban living are discussed.

Notes

1. EDSA, Commonwealth, Taft, Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Marikina are all areas and major highways along Metro Manila.

2. LRT stands for Light Rail Transit, which is a rapid metro transit system in Metro Manila, with two lines serving north–south and east–west routes.

3. Passenger-dependent systems refer to systems usually adopted by public utility vehicles wherein trips begin only when a certain number of passengers are aboard, rather than on a fixed schedule.

4. Megamall is a mall in Mandaluyong.

5. MRT stands for Metro Rail Transit, which refers to a single line transit system situated along the north and south lanes of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).

6. Both lines of the LRT, as well as the MRT, have designated women-only sections.

7. Étranger means “a stranger within public urban spaces.”