What's Your Commute?

"Party-vi" (party-vi)
08/20/2014 at 11:20 • Filed to: None

I received an offer today from a very reputable company. It seems like a no-brainer, with a 12% pay increase and a little less responsibility, but the commute is probably going to be an extra 15-20 minutes, and that's without DC traffic. My new commute would probably be 55-65 minutes. How long is your commute?

DISCUSSION (70)

Sn210 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:22

11 minutes, but doable in 7.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:23

I walk about a block to work, it's super rough.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:23

That's a long commute. Here's mine and a few other's.

pdx107 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:23

my commute is about 20 minutes to work, maybe 30 minutes home. Not ideal but could be worse

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:24

an hour isnt bad. Currently 30 min for me, but slated to be an hour 20 for the next 2 years while I fix a house up for my dad

Party-vi > pdx107
08/20/2014 at 11:24

I made mine worse - when we purchased a house it just about doubled.

Party-vi > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/20/2014 at 11:26

Now I feel silly for asking. Thanks .

*hangs head, shuffles off*

Party-vi > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
08/20/2014 at 11:26

Sounds pretty rough.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:26

Sometimes it rains!

pdx107 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:26

when I moved back to Portland I traded a 15 minute walk across campus to work for the drive. I miss that walk, even in Reno winters. Had an offer for a new job with the same company but would have added 20 to 30 minutes each way to my commute and would have had to pay for parking. Eff that

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:27

It's ok. It's been a few weeks, so things might have changed.

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
08/20/2014 at 11:27

I think the worst part for me is that I only get good mileage in my car if I'm at highway speeds. Any time I hit traffic my mileage takes a nose-dive.

Nibbles > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:28

I drive five minutes to the park-and-ride, get on the express bus, and ride it for the eight minute trek into downtown. Same for going home but in reverse

Party-vi > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
08/20/2014 at 11:29

You poor bastard. I shall make a Kickstarter for you so we can install a canopy over the sidewalk.

Party-vi > pdx107
08/20/2014 at 11:30

This would be at an AFB, so parking really isn't an issue :)

and 100 more > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:30

Depending on when i leave work/home, my commute can be between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours each way (these are the extreme cases; usually, its about an hour to work and 45 minutes home.). The actual distance is almost exactly 20 miles each way.

I think it would be interesting to compare daily commute times to annual income...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:32

~8 minutes.

Party-vi > and 100 more
08/20/2014 at 11:33

THAT would be a good comparison, but I'm not sure everyone would be comfy sharing that information.

>.>

<.<

$51k, 45-50 minutes each way.

Party-vi > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/20/2014 at 11:34

That's pretty nice. Do you find yourself thinking about work a lot at home?

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:36

as does anyone. Any workaround to the traffic on secondaries?

and 100 more > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:36

Mine would be $46k, 45-50 minutes each way.

Your commute is slightly more worth it.

PS9 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:38

I remember when both my cars broke down I had to spend 4 hours on top of the 8 hours working commuting by bike. 2 hours each way, 32 miles total, 5 days/week (sometimes 6).

I guess I have to add what my commute is now. I have basically three jobs (one job involves travel to two different sites owned by the company). One is 10 or so minutes away by foot, the other two are 15 or so minutes away by foot and an hour by bike. An hour and a half by bus because the transit system down here is motherfucking retarded.

mr_gofast > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:38

45min on the bus - same going home...

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
08/20/2014 at 11:39

I've got a few options, but unfortunately I'm heading towards DC in the morning and Baltimore in the evening, and so are most other people. I either take 295 or 495 to get out of DC, both would be terrible. I could probably cut traffic if I hit Rt50, but that adds another 8 miles to the commute so time-wise it's the same.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:40

Sometimes.

pdx107 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:40

haha I could imagine not.

mcseanerson > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:42

My last commute was 75 miles one way across the other side of Columbus during rush hour. On a good day I could do it in little over an hour. There were very few good days. I always budgeted 2 hours for traffic and parking. Is parking better or worse at the new job? It can seem insignificant at first but I used to work at Chase HQ and it's 6,000 parking spaces to 12,000 employees. You have to show up early and wait a bit to leave some times and you can never leave for lunch.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:42

ugh, just not where you want to be going

Party-vi > and 100 more
08/20/2014 at 11:43

Slightly is relative here, as $51k doesn't go very far with a house payment and bills.

Ghoulardi > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:44

Laid off at the end of 2012 (Merry Christmas!) I found a new job a month later - - but 55 miles away. Worse was the fact of my twice daily navigation through a notorious highway intersection that experiences seriously backs at least twice a week. Not a bad job, but not great, and certainly not worth a 3-hours round trip.

New job this spring that's about a 45 minute commute. Feels like heaven!

Party-vi > mr_gofast
08/20/2014 at 11:46

Barf. Not sure if I could commute by bus.

Party-vi > PS9
08/20/2014 at 11:47

At least you're in shape? That's not bad at all except for the biking trip.

and 100 more > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:47

I hear ya. I was closer to $60k a few years ago, and had far fewer responsibilities.

Ah, there's those regrets... I was wondering when they'd show up today.

bpromersberger > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:48

My commute, 38.7 miles. Approximately 42 minutes depending on traffic. About half city half freeway.

Party-vi > mcseanerson
08/20/2014 at 11:48

That's pretty miserable. Parking is just about anywhere I care to leave my vehicle so luckily it's not an issue.

Party-vi > Ghoulardi
08/20/2014 at 11:48

Congrats on the closer commute!

Party-vi > and 100 more
08/20/2014 at 11:49

*bro-hug* I've got the same.

Party-vi > bpromersberger
08/20/2014 at 11:49

That's really good time for the mileage. My car tells me my average speed is 43mph.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:51

I wouldnt go any longer then i have to in DC traffic. I live in herndon and work in sterling, so roughly 15-20 minutes pending on traffic, school busses and etc. but for a 12% increase, id consider it.

bpromersberger > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:51

Yeah its generally not too bad. I've devised a route with the least amount of lights which helps a lot. And given the lack of police around me, everyone drives pretty briskly.

PelicanHazard > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:52

My current commute is a few tenths shy of 10 miles and takes 20 minutes from door to door, largely because I live and work north of the city, leave earlier than most traffic, and the fastest route is backroads. However in September I'm switching jobs (same pay, better benefits, my current office is hell) and will have to go into the city center. Shorter (7 miles), but likely to take longer since parking downtown is expensive so I'll have to take transit.

bpromersberger > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:53

Woops. That's supposed to be 28.7 miles.

Ghoulardi > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 11:55

thank you!

mcseanerson > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:01

That's cool. It was pretty miserable but now it's like a ten minute drive from my small town and I don't even hit the next town before I get off the highway. Parking is not a problem at all and I can drive a couple miles to my choice of restaurants if I want.

WildPanda > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:05

My previous commute consisted of driving my V8 M3 through 30 min of traffic to get to the toll road to do another 30 min at constant speed for a 100 mile round trip daily commute. The return trip was worse and took 1.5 hours because of the afternoon rush hour traffic.

As you could imagine this costed me gas + maintenance + toll roads + time + increased stress + increased wear and tear + increased depreciation of the M3.

Now I picked up a Brompton folding bike and a monthly train pass. My commute now consist of 5 miles to the train station. Fold the bike, hop on the train, put the bike in the overhead bin. Ride for 40 to 45 min while reading Jalopnik Articles and catching up on emails and work using the trains built in wifi. Get of the train and ride 1/4 mile to Starbucks for breakfast and then another 1/4 mile to my office where I am now the first one in. (so total 10 miles round trip and 1,000 calories burned a day)

I bring a change of clothes with me and do a sink shower with cottonelle wet wipes when I get to the office.

The M3 gets used in its natural environment on the weekends now carving up the canyons, local autocross, and local race tracks. I'm spending less on gas than a Prius. My carbon foot print is probably less than a Prius. My M3 isn't depreciating and maintenance is much much cheaper. My risk of stroke and heart attack probably dropped by at least 40% too.

The best part is that after 3 months I am a size down on the Blipshift T shirts that I wear on my commute!!!

n54 & s38 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:08

Drive 5 mins to the park and ride. 30 min train ride to work.

Enginerrrrrrrrr > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:12

Fuck. That. Shit.
Mine is 10 minutes and it's glorious. I can't imagine an hour through DC traffic.

Granted for you it's only an extra 15-20 minutes, so the pay increase is probably worth it. You also gotta consider your work life, potential to grow in the new position, etc. I'd probably go for it, even if I went from my current 10min commute to over an hour through DC.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:16

35 miles each way. On the way to work I can get here in about 40 minutes. On the way home, it varies. Sometimes its 40 minutes. In the summer with shore traffic? Hour and a half.

FKA-RacecaR > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:18

From house to work parking lot, about 7 minutes. Yay!

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:22

It's nice to know that there is someone out there who understands the struggle.

Rainbow > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:24

10 minutes each way if I hit every green light on a weekend. 10 there and 20 back if I hit every green light on a weekday, because I pass three school zones as they're letting out. On average, though, probably 15 there and 25 back.

Party-vi > Enginerrrrrrrrr
08/20/2014 at 12:27

I think the potential to grow is definitely there, and out-of-cycle paid increases are a thing (or so I was told), so this is probably the best thing for my future.

Party-vi > WildPanda
08/20/2014 at 12:28

Nicely done! Sounds like a winning combination.

Just4GP > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:31

For years I did a 30 mile/45 minute commute. Moved 5 miles away from the office. COL was more but I made up the difference in gas saved. Just moved again. 9 miles/12 minutes door to door and all the heavy traffic goes the opposite way.

BoulderZ > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:34

9 minutes. On my bike. Mostly (90%) on a bike path. 11 minutes if I have the Burley trailer for daycare drop-off. 15 minutes if I drive.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:35

I drive 1.5 miles to my office from my apartment. And next month when our office moves, it'll be more like 0.5 miles to my office

Party-vi > jvirgs drives a Subaru
08/20/2014 at 12:38

I mean, why even drive?

blacktruck18 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:43

Mine is about 13 miles. It usually takes me about 25 minutes. That is pretty much as far as I am willing to drive to and from work. It would take a lot for me to commute any further than that.

Party-vi > blacktruck18
08/20/2014 at 12:47

Really? That's like, not very far at all haha. Bad traffic in your area or what?

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 12:52

There are no sidewalks and riding a bicycle would be suicidal with the way people drive around here.

EDIT: I mapped it to verify, old office is 2.5 miles away and new office is 1 mile away.

NaturallyAspirated > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 13:09

My workplace is about 7 miles from my apartment, but thanks to the weird topography around here it takes me about 15-20 minutes one way. I have to drive past a junior college on the way, so I regularly encounter terrible drivers, which can increase the stress level somewhat.

blacktruck18 > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 13:14

Seattle-Tacoma area drivers, 95% of them are idiots. Also, most of the roads I drive on have speed limits that are about 10MPH lower than they should be and, I have to drive onto an Army base which wastes about 5 minutes just waiting in line to get to the gate.

jeepstream > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 13:24

45-50 minutes (35 miles) of beautiful Maryland backroads through thoroughbred horse country. I'm not sure 12% of any salary is worth 40% or more of drive time around DC.

Party-vi > jeepstream
08/20/2014 at 13:27

I'll trade you!!!

benchslap > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 13:57

42 miles, takes me about 45-50 minutes. Longest commute I've had was about 45 miles for about an hour drive.

Party-vi > benchslap
08/20/2014 at 14:10

That's pretty much what I'll be looking at.

Tstanisch > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 15:28

40 minutes one way. Unless it snows, then its like 30-60 minutes.

Howdy Harrell > Party-vi
08/20/2014 at 18:46

I drive about 100 miles a day between 4 different retail accounts as a part of my sales gig. Pretty much 30 minutes from place to place... Not so fun.

mike > Party-vi
08/28/2014 at 12:15

OOOHHHH YEAH HYPERLAPSE about 35 min/45 miles

too bad my job sucks linky

Party-vi > mike
08/28/2014 at 12:22

Damn. That's stupid fast for 45 miles!