No matter how you look at it, it's all the same.

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck) 08/05/2015 at 10:18 • Filed to: None

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TL;DR - I have lots of options when selecting a route to work. Even though some may be much longer, they all take about the same amount of time.

I like to use a GPS app to help me avoid traffic (and cops) on my daily commute. I thought it would be fun to look at some of the route options and see how different they really are.

The biggest challenge is catching all of the permutations given all of the route options. There are at least 12 different routes that I could take if I stick to primary roads. If I were to add in the less direct back roads, that number would be much higher. That isn’t including any silly side routes that would have me going in circles. I ran the numbers for two different times just to see how heavier traffic loads are affecting my commute. This does not take into account any accidents or police enforcement making the looky-loos do their thing and slow us all down.

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The shortest route is 11.8 miles, but the estimated time is among the highest early in the morning, lowest during peak traffic. Strange, but I think I know why. This route passes by one of the local state police offices, a plethora of day care establishments, and several miles of the route are one-lane with businesses and neighborhoods on both sides. I’ve been stuck on that section many times just waiting for some soccer mom to turn left into a day care.

My typical route is 12.9 miles. It’s a combination of two-lane roads, primary roads, a major arterial, and an interstate. This route takes me through an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but the combination of few lights (a total of 8), appropriately sited businesses (most are on the major arterials), and relatively few neighborhoods make this route the easiest to follow. Unfortunately, everyone thinks the same thing and it is one of the slowest routes during peak traffic.

It may be surprising that the longest on the list is also among the fastest. The difference is that most of the miles are on the interstate. It takes me to an exit that is farther away from my destination, but that road is a primary road and has decent traffic flow. It is not my preferred route. It just feels wrong to add several miles to my drive and go the wrong way to get to work.

None of this talks about what it is like to drive these routes. The first thing I will say is that I am usually faster than the typical times. Given that most mornings I am commuting during off-peak hours, the route I select is rarely affected by traffic. I never know for certain which route it will be - the selection depends heavily on the status of the lights at each of the major intersections. If the left-turn light is red, I will go straight through the green and take my chances with the next light. If both are red, I’ll get into the left-turn lane and take that route since it will go green before the through lanes. Gaming the lights like this optimizes my drive and I usually beat the estimates by three or four minutes.

The one route not in the table is the one with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It is double the distance of the shortest route and can take anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes to complete. Maybe I need to think about driving it more often.

So, Oppo, what options do you have on your morning commute and why do you follow your chosen route every day?

Patrick Nichols > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/05/2015 at 10:21

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I always have the choice to go or not to go. Come to think of it so do you. I choose to go almost always.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Patrick Nichols 08/05/2015 at 10:31

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The size of the paycheck is a reflection of that choice.

OPPOsaurus WRX > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/05/2015 at 10:36

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I start my new job in a couple weeks. I just looked up the route. My current route is 25 minutes, 13.7 miles. Its 1/3 primary road, 1/3 highway and 1/3 quite forest road (but passes a police station)

my new route has 2 options (with the second having the middle section with 2 options but mostly the same for 70% of the way)

route A is 32 minutes 24.8 miles and is 1/4 primary road, and 3/4 highway.

route B is all secondary roads 16.6 miles and 30 minutes.

TheRealBicycleBuck > OPPOsaurus WRX 08/05/2015 at 10:38

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Secondary roads FTW!

Which job did you end up taking?

OPPOsaurus WRX > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/05/2015 at 10:46

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lol the only one that made me an offer, i’ll be project managing repair work after major home damage.

TheRealBicycleBuck > OPPOsaurus WRX 08/05/2015 at 10:51

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Congratulations! I missed your announcement post.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/05/2015 at 17:04

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My morning commute I take the same route every day, with the occasional diversion once I get to the town I work in for breakfast/gas. It’s about 8 miles, in just about a straight shot on two lane blacktop. Usually very little traffic in the morning, it’s a road I’ve driven hundreds of times in the three or so years that I’ve been driving, it takes me about 15-20 minutes. That’s counting the two lights I may or may not hit once I get into town. I leave the house at just about the same time every morning, and I’m hanging out in my boss’s office about ten minutes before I need to punch in every morning.

My after work commute, however, is a totally different story. That one depends on if I’m in a hurry to get home (the same route as previously mentioned), the back roads are calling my name (that’s pretty often, and that can take me just about anywhere) or if there’s a fishing rod or kayak in my truck (That’s to the lake in town, and I probably won’t be home for a good while)