Ask HN: Does using public transportation make you more creative than driving?

I'd say more the opposite; when driving alone I have ideas that pop up and sometimes entertain, I can rehearse conversations or thoughts out loud, because of the privacy, and maybe the fact of having the other half of the brain focused on the road. I don't recall doing much of that in my mind when taking the subway or riding a bus, especially since I was already expecting the moment to combine stations or walk away. It did however, bring a different sense of freshness to start my workday, already with some physical activity. Fun drives or going on walks intentionally, not as part of the commute, hit different though.

Having to brace myself while the bus or train swerves and careens and feeling constantly annoyed and uncomfortable while standing, I don’t have any mental capacity for developing any creativity in public transit.

That’s not to say driving facilitates creativity either since it also requires constant attention. But even in a traffic jam, at least I’m sitting in comfort.

Granted, this is in the US, albeit the American city with arguably the best transit - NYC.

I can see myself having more mental clarity while riding some of the more comfortable transit systems in other countries.

I don’t open devices more than necessary - on the bus I can’t it literally makes me feel sick to use my phone. I live in an area where it ends up a mix of straight but also windy roads.

On the train to be honest I find myself standing due to seat availability.

So I usually rest when taking public transport. I use it to close my eyes, look out the window or listen to music.

I’m driving in the road jungle of Athens/Greece. There’s nothing that can sharp your mind, reflexes and creativity to escape death than this.