Few features of contemporary urban life are as grudgingly accepted, or as quietly corrosive, as the daily commute. Chronic road (0) CONGESTION (CONGEST) imposes costs that are rarely itemised on any balance sheet, yet the cumulative loss in national 1PRODUCE is almost certainly vast. Recent 2BEHAVE research suggests that long, stressful journeys measurably erode wellbeing, relationships and even civic participation. In cities where dedicated infrastructure has been built, 3CYCLE now outnumber motorists at peak hours, and overall emissions of the dirtiest 4POLLUTE have begun to fall. Persuading drivers out of their cars, however, demands more than exhortation: effective policy combines positive incentives with carefully calibrated 5INCENTIVE to drive at the busiest hours. Transport 6REFORM point to Copenhagen, Paris and Bogotá as evidence that the pattern can shift quickly once political will is summoned. Until British and American planners match that ambition, the long-term 7SUSTAIN of existing road networks will remain, to put it mildly, 8QUESTION.