How far do (or would) you travel for work?

[Deleted User]

Wow, seems like a one hour commute each way is not only normal but actually, not very much. I can't believe some of you travel 2 hours or more to work and back and yes, I would definitely rather be in my car listening to a good audio book than on a crowded tube or train. I thought that even if I lived 20 minutes away from work, this journey could take 1 hour or more during rush hour. Factoring out rush hour, I'll just have a straight drive so it won't mean being stuck in traffic for an hour which I should probably be grateful for. Just hope I get the job now...

Violet8

I recently started a new job and had to hand my car back to the old employer as it was on the company scheme. New job is about a 20 minute drive away (in light traffic) but currently it is taking me 1 hr 10 mins door to door in the morning and slightly longer on the way back using public transport. I spent a very very frustrating first month trying out all the options (bus company 1, bus company 2 or train plus bus company 3!!) and have settled with the one that involves a 20 min walk to the bus stop, a 30 min bus trip and then a 20 min walk at the other end (up a hill ) as they all seem to take the same amount of time and it was the only option that didn't involve a change- public transport in my city is so unreliable I'd rather walk 80 minutes a day than have to rely on connecting services! At least then my commute is mostly exercise rather than reading time on the bus

ac085

Minimum 1 hour each way. We only have one car so sometimes I'll need to drop DH off or pick him up - That puts the commute up to 1 hour 30.
I find it ok until I hit traffic, but the fuel costs are something to consider!

[Deleted User]

ac085 wrote: »

Minimum 1 hour each way. We only have one car so sometimes I'll need to drop DH off or pick him up - That puts the commute up to 1 hour 30.
I find it ok until I hit traffic, but the fuel costs are something to consider!

Yes, fuel costs are something to consider: Google maps estimates my daily fuel bill will be around £16! I'm not sure if this is accurate but if it is, that's my first two hours of work accounted for.

snowqueen555

one hour public transport, I am used to it but to other people that seems far too long

[Deleted User]

snowqueen555 wrote: »

one hour public transport, I am used to it but to other people that seems far too long

I'm just worried that I won't have much time in the day other than work. 1 hour commute there and back and a 10 hour shift in between, not much time to relax...but I am just grateful to even have the possibility of getting a job in this climate so won't complain!

Hootie19

I used to do two and a half hours door-to-door:

1. drive from Towcester to Milton Keynes railway station

2. train to Kings Cross (or could have been StPanc!)

3. Victoria Line to Victoria (sometimes the underground was so packed, I used to go north a couple of stations, just to be able to squeeze into a southbound train!)

4. 10 minute walk from Victoria station to the office.

I look back now, on my 10 minute drive (45 minute walk if I'm feeling energetic) commute, and wonder how the hell I did it for five years! Must have been because the money was amazing and the staff were brilliant!

Mrs_Ryan

Used to be: Lift from OH/bus from my house to Leicester
Train from Leicester to Nottingham
Bus from Nottingham city centre to work (near Nottingham racecourse)

Average time going to work - 2 and a half hours

Coming back - no buses so work supplied taxi to city centre
Tram to station (taxi was only allowed to drop off at one place and it was at the other end of town)
Train to Leicester
OH picked me up at Leics station.

Work finished at 9pm - home by 11pm. I did that for a year and eventually cracked up due to pressures of job/travelling and I now work 20 mins away from home by car or about 30 by bus. It used to cost me nearly £300 a month which given I was only earning just under £600 a month was a nightmare - I was always late as well as something was always going wrong with the trains :mad: I was over an hour late one day and had to leave an hour early because the trains were in such a mess - fortunately I had an exceedingly understanding boss...

jungle_jane

i have always done mega commutes...i would LOVE to have a one hour drive!

I have worked in Europe (commuting from Stansted - 4am flight on a monday returning 9pm flight Thursay), i have worked in remote cities 2 hour commute each way and I have part-commuted (eg like i do now - go up north one or two days a weeks then work from home the rest of the time). i have also had contracts that involve nightmare commutes 2 hours each way to London and back (and that feels normal to me)

I do it happily for two reasons: extremely good pay compared to what i could earn locally and extremely challenging and enjoyable work which just isn't available locally. i tend to follow the opportunity - if the job sounds amazing and they will pay my day rate plus expenses then i will do it. i will never get that where i live.

its exhausting though - i would LOVE to find a job where i could travel for one hour each way, enjoy my job and get paid my normal rate...

TrickyWicky

Jimavfc82 wrote: »

when i started commuting an hour it depressed me loads! The first week or two i honestly thought i couldn't continue it. Now it seems the most normal thing in the world, which to be honest it probably is!

Funny you say that.. when I first started driving and landed myself a job in the nearby city I had to commute there by car. It took me an hour each way obeying all the speed limits etc. It was a bit of a run but I didn't mind as I was happy to be a driver.

Time went on, more powerful car, still obeying the speed limits.. the journey time dropped drastically to about 30 minutes No idea how but it just seemed to get quicker. I'm not keen on commuting though if I'm honest about it. My OH has been very lucky, always had jobs in our town and when they took some part time evening work in the city where I was working they couldn't take it - lasted 2 days and jacked it in - light weight or what?! :rotfl: