Each working day 500 million people across the planet experience the miracle & misery of commuting. Whether undertaken by car, bus, train or bicycle, the practice shapes our days & creates a time & a space for a surprisingly diverse range of activities. In RUSH HOUR, Iain Gately traces the past, present & future of commuting, from the age of Dickens to the potential of the driverless car. He examines the contrasting experiences of commuters in Britain & elsewhere in the world: from the crush-loaded salarymen of the Tokyo metro to the road-rage afflicted middle managers of America. Notwithstanding its occasional traumas, commuting emerges as a positive aspect of modern life. It has dictated the growth of cities; been proving ground for new technologies; & given countless people freedom of movement & the opportunity to improve their lives.