You ever try standing on a NYC subway, surrounded by strangers, at least a few of which are playing video games or listening to music videos / TV out loud on their phones, having to move every 6 minutes as the doors open and close, and having to keep tabs on who's around you since there are sometimes shady and angry individuals -- for a 45 minute stretch mornings and night? I have, and I can assure you, it's no way to start your day - or end it. Reading is extremely difficult with a bag on one arm and a phone or kindle on the other, if you need to hold onto a pole to not fall over.

I commuted 45 minutes each way to a prior job for a couple of years. Yes, I ate my breakfast in the car on the way there.

No, I didn't sleep, read, or do anything distracting on my drive because when you're in deer country, dawn and dusk are times to be vigilant and ready to brake or swerve if horribly necessary.

Still had $4100 of damage one January.

Commutes can be anywhere from 0 - ? percent multitaskable.

I guess most people commuting as long as an hour or more are doing it on a train where you can do all these things.

You conjure up the idea of a Victorian train carriage with plenty of space and waiters to serve you dinner etc.

Most people are experiencing a noisy packed out train car lit by bright fluorescence lamps, full of tired, irritated people, where they could easily be standing for half the trip.

Not exactly the ideal environment to dine or work on your hobbies…