Commuter Travel

misskool

Cleaver wrote: »

Another question would be whether anyone enjoy's their commute?

I don't loathe my commute. It's actually just built into my day now (which can be as short as 4 hours to as long as 12 hours). I enjoy having a bit of time to think or do something else.

However, 99% of the time I get a seat the whole way and I only remember once or twice when I've stood for the entirety of the commute.

The views aren't all that bad either

Running_Horse

Cleaver wrote: »

Another question would be whether anyone enjoy's their commute?

I enjoy cycling to work at 5am, seeing the bunny rabbits and foxes and listening to the birds.

I did it the other way round; got my job then chose the best house I could afford in the nearest village. Which is fine as long as the job lasts.

I have never understood how people do the London commute, and have accepted lower provincial wages over travelling myself to death.

Generali

misskool wrote: »

I don't loathe my commute. It's actually just built into my day now (which can be as short as 4 hours to as long as 12 hours). I enjoy having a bit of time to think or do something else.

However, 99% of the time I get a seat the whole way and I only remember once or twice when I've stood for the entirety of the commute.

The views aren't all that bad either

I really miss countryside. Bush is beautiful too but it's not 'nice' in the way the English countryside is. The grass is spiky, there's very little water and the fauna mostly wants to kill you!

Cleaver

Mozette wrote: »

I live about 6 miles away, travel is £42 pcm bus pass, takes 45 mins to get there at stupid o'clock (two buses) and oh god anything up to 2 hours to get home, which is a bit of a beggar.

Are you not tempted to get a bike? You could do 6 miles in about 20 minutes no probs. Would probably beat the 2 hours on a bus and pay for itself after a couple of months.

Generali

Cleaver wrote: »

Are you not tempted to get a bike? You could do 6 miles in about 20 minutes no probs. Would probably beat the 2 hours on a bus and pay for itself after a couple of months.

That would be my choice but then I like cycling.

For £300 you could get a very nice new bike, less if you go second hand. If you buy a bike to commute I'd advise against a cheapie as they tend to be uncomfortable and unreliable.

It would save you the price of a gym membership too! Cycling 12 miles a day at a slow-moderate pace will burn about 2,500 calories a week extra if you weigh 10 stone, a little less if you're lighter, a littler more if you're heavier.

milliebear00001

I do a 40 minute drive through villages and fields (mostly) and actually quite like the quiet time to think, prepare mentally for the day and listen to the radio. I don't get much time to myself at home!

Previously, when I lived and worked in London, I did a nice, easy commute on the Tube from Zone 2 to Zone 1 in about half an hour door to door - I enjoyed that too as I could read my book and OH and I travelled together. Not great in the summer heat though!

By far the worst commute for me was travelling into London from our much saved-for first house out in Kent. Tiny, idyllic village just outside Maidstone. Commute was 50 mins (yeah right!) on the train, then another 20 on the Tube into the City. Hell on Earth as I was constantly knackered and felt I had no 'life' outside of working and commuting. I lasted two years before I got a local job that paid peanuts and had a baby! OH did that commute for another two years before we moved North again.

neverdespairgirl

milliebear00001 wrote: »

By far the worst commute for me was travelling into London from our much saved-for first house out in Kent. Tiny, idyllic village just outside Maidstone.

there are lots of tiny, gorgeous villages near Maidstone - I septn a lot of my childhood in one. But too far to commute (IMO)

michaels

Have to say I have hated almost every commute I have done, even walking 15 minutes seemed like a waste of time, currently get the Mrs to drop me off as part of the school run. My least favourites have been Scotland daily on Easyjet, LHR round the M25 (sitting in car is OK but unreliability drove me mad) and docklands with train, 2 tubes and DLR, about 1.5hrs but again extremely unreliable and either too cold, too hot or both.

Mr_Matey

I used to do a really pleasant 15 minute walk to work in Sydney. In London I had a 30 minute tube ride with lots of grumpy people and 15 minutes of walking.

Now I have a 5 minute bike ride to work. It's great!

For a while in Sydney I did 1 hour on the awful cityrail network. Never again!

mbga9pgf

wymondham wrote: »

I'm curious as to how many people commute long distances so they can afford to buy/live in better area etc, and how this impacts on them, with the costs of the travel and the time eaten away from their 'home time' - is it worth it?

I work about 10 miles from where I live and often do work on the way in/home so this is nothing compared to most. I did do a stint working in London, but found the commute both in terms of time and money simply wasnt worth it and gave this up after a few months with the attitiude 'work isnt everything' !

who travels the furthest, and why, how much do you spend commuting? Discuss!

Current location is 33 miles from work. Not in every day and the journey takes 50 mins.

Next location will be about 44 miles and take 1 hour and 10 mins; but worth it as we got our dream home. I enjoy the travel and its on quiet country roads, no motorway miles thanks!