Daily travel time/distance?

Author
Discussion

Joey Ramone

2,150 posts

124 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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I'm about to swap a 4 min commute for a 2-2.5 hr commute.

No kids though. And not every day either.

JapFreak786

1,511 posts

156 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I do 1.5 hours each from Birmingham to North Milton Keynes. 54 miles each way I think it is roughly.
The distance isn't the issue but the traffic is, a bad journey is over 2 hours and this isn't sustainable but being a contractor go to where the work is. I have pretty much an hour/50 miles commute distance that I like to stick to.

I wouldn't advise on anyone doing something like that long term.

eggchaser1987

1,608 posts

148 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I used to have a comute from near Yeovil to Coventry worked out about 3 and a half hours on a good day.

It may not be ideal, I used to do it but admittedly no kids involved just the oh, is there an option to get some lodge money and stay in a hotel for a couple of nights a week.


shtu

3,407 posts

145 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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BFG TERRANO said:
What's an "acceptable" and reasonable daily journey to and from work? All I can find is a bit grey and non committal! Anyone able to offer anything concrete?

I'm expected to drive 120 miles each way which takes around 2hrs 10mins on average and work 8 to 5 mon to fri.
I'd be having a quiet word with a friendly H&S guy.

I make that (on a 30 minute lunch) an almost 13-hour day, before you add any O\T. Seems excessive.

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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8 minutes (3.3 miles). Life's too short for a commute or to be stuck in traffic if you get the opportunity to work close to home. Done the A1 car park for 5 years, life's so much better when you can clock out and be home in less than 10 minutes.

illmonkey

18,111 posts

197 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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toon10 said:
8 minutes (3.3 miles). Life's too short for a commute or to be stuck in traffic if you get the opportunity to work close to home. Done the A1 car park for 5 years, life's so much better when you can clock out and be home in less than 10 minutes.
Ahem. I've gone from 37.5 hours a week with a 3 minute commute (each way!) to a 40 hour week with at least an hours commute each way, as well as a early start time. Before I'd get up at 7:30 and be home at 4:30. Now I'm up at 6:45 and get home at 6pm if I'm lucky.

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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illmonkey said:
Ahem. I've gone from 37.5 hours a week with a 3 minute commute (each way!) to a 40 hour week with at least an hours commute each way, as well as a early start time. Before I'd get up at 7:30 and be home at 4:30. Now I'm up at 6:45 and get home at 6pm if I'm lucky.
I went the other way. I had a 47.5 hour standard week excluding any OT and a 45 minute (traffic depending) commute each way. I used to leave the house around 7am to get to work, finish at 6:30pm Monday through Wednesday and then get home abot 7:15pm. We had earlier finihes on Thurs/Fri but I'd cry if I had to go back to working like that.

I took a £1k per year pay cut and work 8am until 4:30pm Monday to Thursday and I finish at 1:30pm on a Friday. There is no staying back on Friday's, the place is deserted by 2pm! I was lucky that a position got advertisd and I applied and was offered the job. They aren't the best at salary here but not the worst. The quality of life is so much better that I'd have to be offered mega bucks to jump ship.

illmonkey

18,111 posts

197 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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toon10 said:
illmonkey said:
Ahem. I've gone from 37.5 hours a week with a 3 minute commute (each way!) to a 40 hour week with at least an hours commute each way, as well as a early start time. Before I'd get up at 7:30 and be home at 4:30. Now I'm up at 6:45 and get home at 6pm if I'm lucky.
I went the other way. I had a 47.5 hour standard week excluding any OT and a 45 minute (traffic depending) commute each way. I used to leave the house around 7am to get to work, finish at 6:30pm Monday through Wednesday and then get home abot 7:15pm. We had earlier finihes on Thurs/Fri but I'd cry if I had to go back to working like that.

I took a £1k per year pay cut and work 8am until 4:30pm Monday to Thursday and I finish at 1:30pm on a Friday. There is no staying back on Friday's, the place is deserted by 2pm! I was lucky that a position got advertisd and I applied and was offered the job. They aren't the best at salary here but not the worst. The quality of life is so much better that I'd have to be offered mega bucks to jump ship.
I wanted out of the last place, and I'm now earning more money, so it's worth it for now. It's just me and the othe half too. Stash the cash for now!

m3coupe

1,104 posts

203 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I know this is my own choice but I've just changed jobs (well in process of).

Just now I work shifts, 2 early, 2 late and 2 night including weekend working and drive 16 miles each way which takes 25 minutes give or take.

New job is 8-4 Monday to Friday travelling 65 miles each way and takes about an hour and 20.

Yes it will cost more fuel but for more time with my family, no shift work and better pay, I'm totally happy with it.

PurpleTurtle

6,935 posts

143 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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BFG TERRANO said:
Anyone able to offer anything concrete?
BFG TERRANO said:
I manage construction sites
I see what you did there!! laugh

Me: 12 miles, but this is through the People's Republic of Reading, where traffic is abysmal. It can regularly take an hour(!) by car, so I mainly go by motorbike.

In previous jobs I've driven up to an hour each way. I don't mind a long distance commute, especially if somebody else is paying the car and fuel bills, it gives me time to think, listen to music and generally relax a bit, provided the journey isn't FUBAR'd by traffic hold-ups. Some of my colleagues battle the M25 every day, it can properly piss on your chips if that goes tits up.

JakeThePeg

4,076 posts

121 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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10.7 miles from door to door. (each way)
Having to go with town center traffic doesn't help meaning it takes 30-40 minutes most days.

BFG TERRANO

Original Poster:

2,172 posts

147 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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Still following guys, thanks again for the comments.

Update: spoke with our independent safety consultant who's instant reaction was it's wrong, very wrong regarding EU working agreements and the HSE working hours regs. Basically a good chunk of that journey has to be within my work hours and not in my private time. Going to confirm next week when he's sure.

MrBarry123

6,025 posts

120 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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Unless you really like the job or the money is exceptional, that's a long commute by anyone's standard and probably excessive if the company don't provide any reimbursement of the time (even if just in part) e.g. allowing you to leave early to take into account the journey time ahead etc.

spud989

2,738 posts

179 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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I'm switching an 8-minute/4-mile commute in January for one that's 25 miles and around 30 minutes - 90% motorway. Will be a big jump for me, but I still think it's fairly modest in general terms.

paolow

3,208 posts

257 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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Its not just the time - but what form the commute takes.
I used to board a train with a load of sullen faced commuters and arrive at my desk having stood shoulder to shoulder with people who hated every minute.
I now take about the same time to get to my desk but my journey, dependent on how I am feeling / need to buy for dinner etc is either a walk along the banks of a stream for the most part or a walk along a purpose built tree lined path.
Both commutes are/were 50 minutes.
Yes I get rained on if it is raining with the latter, but for me its that every time and I'm not made of rice paper. Free apart from trainers, a bit of excersise and provides a nice way to 'buffer' home work and work life. If I have an appointment etc I can always get a lift too to cut it short if be need be.
For me its less about the time its takes as both are the same - but what comfort and enjoyment I take away from it. Oddly due to where I now live and work I can see my house on and off in the distance from 5 minutes into the journey which is a nice touch and a nice reminder of why I do it.
The flip side is I can see work from home, which has its own onerous feelings attached - but I guess you can't have one without the other....
Bloody Godsend being close to home whilst at work at times though when you need to drop in. I wouldnt swap back, no way.
That said I am limiting my career by choosing this route - but the freedom it gives is really valuable to me. I don't depend on anyone or anything getting to/from work.

John D.

17,701 posts

208 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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PurpleTurtle said:
I see what you did there!! laugh

Me: 12 miles, but this is through the People's Republic of Reading, where traffic is abysmal. It can regularly take an hour(!) by car, so I mainly go by motorbike.

In previous jobs I've driven up to an hour each way. I don't mind a long distance commute, especially if somebody else is paying the car and fuel bills, it gives me time to think, listen to music and generally relax a bit, provided the journey isn't FUBAR'd by traffic hold-ups. Some of my colleagues battle the M25 every day, it can properly piss on your chips if that goes tits up.
Funny that you're from Reading. Spotted the username a few times and made the connection. Obvious really!

I commute Reading to East London every day to run a building site. Takes around 1hr 15min to get from home to site, and the hours are not short. Work life balance isn't right really. I certainly wouldn't be doing a 2hr commute, especially driving. Wouldn't have time to sleep, never mind anything else!

At some point I will get a more local job. Thing is the way traffic can be in Reading I could easily spend 30 min just getting across town in the evening.

snoopy25

1,858 posts

119 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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45 minutes to cover 8 miles (each way) through the crappy back streets of south london and then a 2 mile walk in (each way) from where i park which takes 30-35mins

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

181 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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snoopy25 said:
45 minutes to cover 8 miles (each way) through the crappy back streets of south london and then a 2 mile walk in (each way) from where i park which takes 30-35mins
Have you heard of bicycles?

snoopy25

1,858 posts

119 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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lol of course, but lack of liquid funds means i can't afford one biggrin

GuinnessMK

1,608 posts

221 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I' used to be a site manager in the construction industry. No way I'd be putting up with that as a daily commute to site. I'd be staying in a local hotel or B&B during the week.

The shear volume of decisions to be made, operatives to keep an eye on, paperwork to process and walks round site, knacker me everyday. I always stayed as close as I could to site.

Part of working in the construction industry is working away from home, and not being in your own bed every night (IMHO).

That said, my current role involves a 7 minute bike ride from home to office. smile