Just wondering how many commute to work

[FionaLovesShrek]

I drive an hour each way to my job every day. At first I thought I would hate it, but I have found it gives me time to see things, like a change of seasons. Over time I have come to identify other commuters. There is one car I call the M&m guy. He is obviously a Dad, green sedan with car full of kid stuff and the M&M guy as his antennae topper. I also pass "Rio Girl" every day, she drives a silver Kia Rio and apparently has her cruise set somewhere between 60-65. Everybody passes her, but she seems to just enjoy her ride every day too. Of course, what has effected me the most is seeing car accidents. I never realized there were so many until I started being on the interstate every day. Last month I was five minutes behind an accident that took the lives of an entire family. I think about them every day when I pass the place they died. Our interstate is divided by a large median of grass. A truck coming from the opposite direction left that side of the Interstate and crashed into a van carrying a mother and her 3 children and their family pet. They were on their way home from a trip. No one made it out alive. I heard that the man driving the truck may have had a heart attack. The interstate was closed for 5 hours and I was there. But instead of being upset I could not go anywhere, I just kept thinking, if I'd left the house 5 minutes earlier, it could have been me. Does anyone else deal with commuting and have you witnessed something like that?

 

[Credit Man]

My commute is 90 minutes each way, on a bus. I sleep in the morning and read or watch DVD's at night.

 

[mainewmn]

My commute is about 30 minutes long and it includes dropping off my kid at school on my way to work. We live in the country so I don’t see too many accidents just lots of deer, turkey and moose which I like much better when they stick to the woods rather then the middle of the road. Other then that it’s the occasional stranded driver on the side of the road, the few times there was an accident it was always a bad one.

I also notice other commuters. There is the flag lady who has her car plastered with flag magnets and there is the truck of workers who commute every day and pick up their partner about ¾ way down to town. Of course I see lots of kids waiting for their busses. I like seeing them and over the last year I really noticed how they growing up. I like my commute most of the time because it gives me time to wake up and plan my day or wind down and plan my evening in my mind, but I hate the commute when the weather gets bad. The only good thing about it then is I usually end up leaving work earlier.

 

[iwantahemi]

I'm 40 minutes each way and I despise it. I'm desperatly trying to find a job closer to home.

 

[justjulie]

An hour and a half each way by bus and train - every day ...

 

[SC Minnie]

I have a 10 minutes commute. That includes dropping DD off for school. DH has a 5 minute commute.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I have a long commute but I use public transportation. Let someone else deal with the traffic while I read or nap or daydream. Life's too short to waste time stressing out over getting to/from work.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My commute is 90 minutes each way on commuter train (LIRR) then the NYC subway. I don't mind the LIRR because does give me time to read, nap etc.
I don't like taking the subway because it's crowded and just a pain the neck.

 

[AllyandJack]

On a GOOD day, my commute is about 1.5 hours. On a BAD day, it's over 2 hours. I've come to enjoy my time in the car. I talk to my friend (with a hands-free unit, of course), I listen to whatever I want on the radio, I think about things. I don't find it stressful most days. Yeah, I get annoyed if someone hangs it up and I'm sitting there not moving. Yeah, I get annoyed if I'm hungry or sick and I just want to get home. Generally, I don't mind it though. People think I'm crazy, but I feel "at home" in my car and being in it isn't all that bad.

I've also noticed other commuters. There is a guy from VT that I recognize all the time. There is the lady who manages to put on mascara while driving. There is the "You Can't Be Catholic And Pro-Abortion" guy. There is the "Save The Environment" guy in a Durango. I see many Disney antenna toppers.

I see the same construction trucks, too. There must be a big project that these guys are working on near the city because they get off shortly before the bridge.

I also see the same crazy, bad drivers.

 

[smilie]

My commute is 45 minutes each way, now. On my old schedule it was 1 1/2 hours each way, but at 4:00 AM there's usually no one one the road.

 

[Christine]

My commute is 30 miles in each direction and it can take me anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. But on average, it is about an hour.

I know what you mean about noticing things. I sometimes feel like I see the same "pack" of vehicles each day. We all leave at the same time obviously. Of course, those with personalized tags stand out more and I've been seeing the same people for years.

 

[chesirechik]

I have a 10 minute drive to a Trolley Station, then a 25 minute train ride into town.

I would absolutely explode if I had to drive in traffic everyday, so the train works out well for me. I sleep, read or listen to my Ipod.

I see the same people everyday, it's funny. I often end up sitting with the same person several days in a row.

 

[Aidensmom]

I commute 15 miles each way, it takes me an hour to get there, about an hour and a half to get home To me, it is sad to think about all that time spent sitting in traffic each week. I am driving through the city, so much of the sights aren't too pretty, and all the traffic is pretty stressful.

 

[Bob Slydell]

My commute's not too bad now. It's about 1/2 an hour, but it's against the normal flow of traffic, so it's pretty quick and fairly consistent. When I worked downtown, the part that drove me nuts is that half the time my drive would be 1/2 an hour, other days it was 1 1/2 hours. It's hard to plan a schedule around that, especially when you're picking up kids from school.

 

[Chicago526]

My commute is about 35 to 45 minutes (traffic depending) one way. Not too bad for living in the Chicago area. I also tend to see the same cars everyday. I also pass the train station and I see some of the same people walking to the train each morning!

Fortunatly I've never witnessed a major accident happen (I have seen whats left on the side of the road before the tow trucks get there, and I've seen 2 car fires), but when I do get stuck in traffic I don't get upset about it. And I also like watching the season change from my car. I love fall, we have lots of trees in my area so it's really pretty right now. Winter isn't as much fun though!

 

[jenny2]

I drive 62 miles each way to work. If I leave early in the morning it takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. If I leave later it can be upwards of 1 1/2 hours.

I hear you on the accidents. The near misses always shake me up. A few weeks ago there was an accident much like you described where a Dodge Caravan (same car I drive) crossed the grassy median and slammed into an Acura travelling the other way - everyone died. I was about 15 minutes behind the accident and got caught in the traffic. I had called my mom while I was sitting there, and it was a good thing because she would have thought it was me.

I try to make the drive productive - books on tape, talking to friends (hands free of course), decompression time, etc. But it sucks to spend that much time commuting. I feel like I'm constantly rushing - quick, quick to get to work in the AM and quick, quick can't be late picking up the kids in the PM. Oh well - that's what I get for living in the country and having a high-tech job in the city!

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I drive 62 miles each way to work. If I leave early in the morning it takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. If I leave later it can be upwards of 1 1/2 hours.

I hear you on the accidents. The near misses always shake me up. A few weeks ago there was an accident much like you described where a Dodge Caravan (same car I drive) crossed the grassy median and slammed into an Acura travelling the other way - everyone died. I was about 15 minutes behind the accident and got caught in the traffic. I had called my mom while I was sitting there, and it was a good thing because she would have thought it was me.

I try to make the drive productive - books on tape, talking to friends (hands free of course), decompression time, etc. But it sucks to spend that much time commuting. I feel like I'm constantly rushing - quick, quick to get to work in the AM and quick, quick can't be late picking up the kids in the PM. Oh well - that's what I get for living in the country and having a high-tech job in the city!

I understand the decompression issue. I need it after leaving work but by the time I get home I just feel so tired. The mornings I enjoy the most, less traffic that early. Afternoon traffic can drive you nuts, especially when you have two truckers side by side going 60 and you can't get around them. I only get real upset about it when there is no traffic ahead of them. It's like, hello....MOVE OVER!
I'm glad I don't have the 90 minute commute some of you do. I already feel like I'm missing out on so much with my DD. But we do what we have to do. If I didn't have 15 years invested, I would definitely find a job closer to home.

 

[Sonya]

I have a 30 min. trip to work and a 45 min. trip home, beacuse I have to pick up DS. We live in the country and it is a very nice drive. I really am liking it. I don't see wrecks but I do see road kill, that is sometimes hard. (gorey)

Like others have said, you get to see the chance of seasons and you get to unwind. Now if I had to drive on the highway I wouldn't be so pleased! And it is hard when you are late.

 

[Snoopymom]

I used to get stressed and think of it as time wasted, but when I realized it was the only time during the day I have to myself, it dawned on me that maybe I should try to enjoy it, LOL, so I listen to books on tape, or whatever music I want to or I just think.

I see a lot of familiar people too, sometimes I can judge how late I'm running, by seeing a car at a different spot than I normally do.

I used to see a big van with stickers/magnets all over it with a little boy's picture warning about driving while talking on your cell phone. I was so happy and relieved for the mom when I noticed that she was driving a new car minus the "memorial".

I also did mapquest and found back roads. I go about 10 miles out of my way, but it's less time and a much more scenic, peaceful and accident free route.

 

[FourFlans]

30 miles each way, in traffic, which means it's about a 45-50 minute commute. But I've learned to enjoy it with audio books and Fox News on my satellite radio. When the kids are with me it's always Radio Disney!