Do people live further away than previously?

[Jasandjules]

North West Tom said:

I wonder who has the slowest and fastest average speed? As the crow flies, home to work is 8.58 miles. It takes around 1 hour door to door (London).

My entire commute is at walking pace. But fortunately it is only about 40ft...

[Johnnytheboy]

StevieBee said:

I wonder if perceptions of distance change with age.

I used to commute from Brentwood to Godalming and thought nothing of it but wouldn't consider doing it now.

In 1970, my parents moved from Forest Gate to Upminster, a distance of what, 14 miles or so? As far as their parents were concerned, they may as well have been moving to different country. Yet my parents felt the same when we moved to a village south of Chelmsford, 20 miles from Upminster.

It depends where you live too. I left London to move back to Dorset. My commute at first was 50-60 minutes, much like it had been in London.

My London friends said "oh, that's not too bad...", my new work colleagues thought I was insane.

Also people's concept of distance rather than travel time seems important.

We work just north of Bournemouth. Most staff work in Greater Bournemouth, I live 20 miles north in the sticks. People still think I live miles away compared to them (I do), but it takes them just as long to commute - due to the traffic.