Commuter hell describes those times of day in the morning and early evening when everyone is going to or from work. In cities with tolerable public transport, this means overcrowded, full, and late buses and trains. In cities lacking even that it means even busier roads, congestion, and traffic jams.

Commuter hell creates very particular magical characteristics -- most of the time people are tired, irritable, and focussed entirely inwards. In some circumstances, though, the mood can swing the other way -- the feel of commuter hell on a sunny Friday afternoon is quite different from a rainy Monday morning.

Because commuter hell forces lots of people together it's a good time for random acts. There's a captive audience of people who desperately want to remain inside their own heads, and will often go to absurd lengths to avoid any kind of scene or mental difficulty.

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CategoryEverydayUrbanLife