Commuting sucks.

[DaveMage]

Not long ago, there was a big drive in our community to replace sidewalk panes that were cracked or "upheaved". We are pretty good friends with the family that lives two doors down from us on the cul-de-sac. Because we live on a cul-de-sac and have yards that are shaped like pieces of pie, that distance is about as close as most people's next door neighbors, at least in the front.

So, when they replaced one of the sidewalk panes between our houses, the commute was somewhat slowed by the construction. We were glad to see that complete.

Mmmmm....pie.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

My commute to work takes about 15 minutes to get to my parking lot (which takes me right past my building) on the other side of campus, then another 10 minutes to walk back to the library from the parking lot.

Back when I worked in NYC, and first got my job, I was commuting from my house in upstate NY. 30 minute drive to the train, 1 hour 20 minutes on the train, 5-10 minute walk to the subway, and 20 minutes on the subway. And that doesn't take into account the time waiting at each step for the various trains to arrive. I used to leave the house at 5am to get to work at 9am, and leave the office at 5:30pm to get home at 9:30pm. After 2 months I finally moved into NYC.

 

[kenobi65]

I've got a very consistent commute - about an hour door-to-door. It's about 20 miles, I work in downtown Chicago (right around the corner from where a lot of the new Batman movie was filmed) and I take the train. Driving is hellish here; traffic is backed up every weekday and most weekends heading into or out of the city.

I'm with you, Kid. I work in downtown Chicago (about 4 blocks from the Water Tower), and live in the western suburbs. If traffic weren't an issue, it'd be about a 20-25 minute drive. (As if!) So, I drive 10 minutes to the L (subway), and take that downtown. Commute winds up being just over an hour door-to-door.

I've been doing this commute (in various forms, through 3 different jobs and 4 different homes) for 16 years now. If it weren't for mass transit, I probably would be in jail now, because I would have killed someone if I had to drive every day. (Those few days when I do have to drive, due to meetings outside of downtown, are often very frustrating.)

I know that, some day, I'll be moving away from Chicago, and back to Wisconsin....and the insane traffic here is one reason why. But, for now, there are very few places where I can do what I do, and so I'm here.

Queen D, I feel for you, as you're in an area that's even more congested, from a traffic standpoint, than here. (If your commute includes needing to cross the Potomac, then I feel for you even more...I have friends who had to do that for a few years, and it was heinous.)

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

I know what you mean. According to mapquest, it's 0.27 miles from my house to my office. That's over a quarter of a mile! The walk takes 5 minutes; 7 if I don't make the lights.

If I drive, it takes 30 seconds. 1.5 minutes if I don't make the light.

The horror! The horror!

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Past couple years, my daily commute was a 15 minute walk. Except in the spring....freakin' tourists clogging the sidewalks near the zoo. Man, zoo traffic really made my commute suck.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Sorry, I won't rant with you (though I agree a long commute sucks).

The distance from my home to my work: 4 miles.

Time: 10 minutes

Time if I actually catch the 5 lights green: 5 minutes

Life is good.

Sounds like my commute. Except for the number of lights is only 2 and they're usually green at that hour. And light or practically no traffic.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Queen D, I feel for you, as you're in an area that's even more congested, from a traffic standpoint, than here. (If your commute includes needing to cross the Potomac, then I feel for you even more...I have friends who had to do that for a few years, and it was heinous.)

Yep - when I go to work - I've got to get across the Potomac. I hate that damned river... and every bridge that crosses it to get into DC. *shakes her fist in the air*

 

[kenobi65]

Yep - when I go to work - I've got to get across the Potomac. I hate that damned river... and every bridge that crosses it to get into DC. *shakes her fist in the air*

When my friends moved out there (from here, Chicago), they both got jobs in Bethesda, so they moved to Gaithersburg, MD, and had reasonable commutes. Within 2 years, they both had changed jobs, and were now in Tyson's Corner and Alexandria. It got so bad, they sold their 4-year-old house and moved to Ashburn.

There's just not enough bridges across the Potomac, because that riverside property is too expensive, and owned by people who are too influential.

 

[EricNoah]

I don't envy you commuters; it's one of those things that can just drain the life out of you. I used to drive about 30 min to work and hated it. Now my commute is about 10 minutes. And I'm driving against the traffic (from the 'big city' to the suburb). Works out great.

Edit: What do you mass-transit users do on your long commutes? I assume reading's one thing; anyone listen to music or the radio?

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Edit: What do you mass-transit users do on your long commutes? I assume reading's one thing; anyone listen to music or the radio?

I have an most excellent little MP3 player that keeps me company - it's especially important if I'm walking the mile from the train station to my office.

During the summer, I have the freedom to read whatever I want. The paper, a book - anything! During the school year, I read school books and study. I put important parts of my notes onto note cards, so I carry little note card holders with me on the train so that I can go through them for at least 20 minutes of my commute.

Additionally, I have Tetris on my cell phone.