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NFT: How long is your commute?

spike : 8/6/2022 5:48 pm
I was at a kid's birthday party today and one of the parents remembers my daily commute from Westchester into Brooklyn, since we met over a year ago at another party.

How long is your commute nowadays, post-covid and in this era of remote optional work?

Am I the one of the few nutjobs out there spending numerous hours driving to work?


30 minutes away  
Route 9 : 8/6/2022 5:52 pm : link
...
About 25 Min to go 17 miles in the Morning  
Trainmaster : 8/6/2022 5:52 pm : link
And a little under 30 min to drive home in the afternoon.

Southern California BTW. And only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (work remotely Mon, Thursday and every other Friday (9/80 Schedule ))

I'm 100%  
PakistanPete : 8/6/2022 5:54 pm : link
work from home now. I couldn't imagine going back.

Prior to COVID, my commute was 45 minutes, which isn't bad I guess but I hated it.

My brother-in-law has a 2-hour commute. I know he does it so my sister can live where she wants, which I respect, but I couldn't do it.
......  
Route 9 : 8/6/2022 5:54 pm : link
COVID was great for traffic ...

because there wasn't any.
Commute?  
MrX : 8/6/2022 5:55 pm : link
Not sure why anyone would want ANY commute. My time is valuable, the worst part of a commute is I'm wasting my time without even getting paid for it. Last time I switched jobs, I refused to interview for anything further than 15-20 minutes from where I live.

I've been full time WFH since March 2020.

Understandably, some jobs are impossible to do from home.
100% work from home now  
Sean : 8/6/2022 5:55 pm : link
But, I was commuting an hour each way pre covid for 3 days per week.
35 minutes in  
Tuckrule : 8/6/2022 5:56 pm : link
And anywhere from 45-70 minutes home.
I've been 90+% work from home since March 2020,  
Del Shofner : 8/6/2022 6:01 pm : link
mainly in the Hudson Valley. If I do go down to the city my commute from our place there is about 40 minutes each way, most of that on the subway. But I'm giving up my physical office as I don't really need it anymore, and I expect I'll be in the office even less starting in a couple of months.
Depending on the time  
TommyWiseau : 8/6/2022 6:10 pm : link
Of day, anywhere from 1 hour each way to 3 hours one way
None.  
AcidTest : 8/6/2022 6:12 pm : link
I run my own business and work from home.
0 minutes  
UConn4523 : 8/6/2022 6:12 pm : link
After 80 each we pre COVID. Never doing that again. Would take less money if I had to not to commute.
Typically my commute from Westchester to Brooklyn has been  
spike : 8/6/2022 6:12 pm : link
50-70 minutes in the morning and 70-90 minutes in the afternoon.

Summer obviously has less traffic, except on Friday afternoons.
15 minutes  
Aaroninma : 8/6/2022 6:14 pm : link
Work retail, almost never have to travel during any kind of rush hour. One of my locations is actually only like, 3 minutes from my house, but I mainly work in the one about 15 minutes away
Unfortunately  
DG_89 : 8/6/2022 6:19 pm : link
2 1/2 hours since my car died 2 years ago. From Queens to Hicksville. No work from home option with my job, so I do what I have to do to get to work on time. Thankfully in another month or so I'll have a new car so I'll be back to 30 - 45 minute commutes
RE: Unfortunately  
spike : 8/6/2022 6:20 pm : link
In comment 15773436 DG_89 said:
Quote:
2 1/2 hours since my car died 2 years ago. From Queens to Hicksville. No work from home option with my job, so I do what I have to do to get to work on time. Thankfully in another month or so I'll have a new car so I'll be back to 30 - 45 minute commutes


Glad to hear!
about 15 steps  
PatersonPlank : 8/6/2022 6:23 pm : link
unless I want coffee, then i have to add another 10 feet or so
20-25 minutes...  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 8/6/2022 6:23 pm : link
Not too bad. Bruce, Dylan, & Petty make it go faster.
 
christian : 8/6/2022 6:42 pm : link
We’d been on the fence on what to do with our Fidi lease. We’ve been hybrid for the last 18 months, and were going to move to a building near Union Square. But most of the NY workforce was coming in maybe once a month. So we’re going to hang tight and save the money.

I’m in Rhinebeck now after being in Woodstock for a while, so I’ll grab Amtrak 2 hours down to the city and spend the night in a hotel the few times a month I need to be in-person with investors or clients.

We have learned even the younger workers, while they appreciate the option, actually don’t come in.
2.5 miles  
dlauster : 8/6/2022 6:47 pm : link
I’m blessed, but I also gave up a more hip lifestyle in the big city.
I know a lot of people who commuted (and still do)  
shockeyisthebest8056 : 8/6/2022 7:06 pm : link
from Orange County to the City every day. As far away as fucking Middletown. My commute was 20 minutes during the summer and 30-45 minutes during the school year. Now I work from home.

No one wants to commute if they have a choice. My brother is a recruiter for a global logistics firm and everyone he interviews wants to work 5 days a week at home, even though the company is just asking for 2 days a week in person. And because there’s so much competition, smaller firms will gladly allow new hires to work full time remotely.

You don’t realize how much time and money you save not commuting.
15  
Go Giants : 8/6/2022 7:16 pm : link
To 20 minutes reverse commute.
RE: I know a lot of people who commuted (and still do)  
christian : 8/6/2022 7:27 pm : link
In comment 15773455 shockeyisthebest8056 said:
Quote:
No one wants to commute if they have a choice. My brother is a recruiter for a global logistics firm and everyone he interviews wants to work 5 days a week at home, even though the company is just asking for 2 days a week in person. And because there’s so much competition, smaller firms will gladly allow new hires to work full time remotely.

You don’t realize how much time and money you save not commuting.


The only people at my company who were going in were those in small apartments with kids, or younger people who really just wanted to go out with their work friends after.
2.3 miles  
GruningsOnTheHill : 8/6/2022 7:34 pm : link
Live on an island; work on same island.
I have 4 locations  
dabru : 8/6/2022 7:48 pm : link
The furthest is 25 min but I mainly commute to the closest one less than 5 minutes. All are pretty mellow 40-50 mile per hour roads with no lights and light traffic.

When I lived north of Pittsburg I had 2 locations in opposite directions and each was 50 minutes mostly Highway, sometimes I miss that alone time with the tunes and a cigar
I have worked from home  
pjcas18 : 8/6/2022 7:52 pm : link
since 2008, so no commute, but I do travel for work - global - which is a pain in the ass.

Prior to 2008, I worked in Hopkinton, MA which is 3 miles from my house.
2.5 miles each way  
jgambrosio : 8/6/2022 8:32 pm : link
Took my car in for service today and the guy said "glad we could put some miles on your car today." I've had my car for 13 months and have 3k miles on it between the commute and only going in 2-3x per week. I commuted 40 miles each way for a year once by car (south Florida lacks good and consistent transit options) and said never again.
Ha, well anywhere from  
section125 : 8/6/2022 8:42 pm : link
2 hrs to 15 hrs to get to where the ship was. Then 20 seconds to get to the bridge...5 seconds to my office.
I sleep on 3rd floor...home office is on 2nd floor, so about 20 yards.  
Jimmy Googs : 8/6/2022 8:58 pm : link
I can drive to either of the 2 offices in ATL for my firm...which I rarely do unless there is a special event or I am meeting clients nearby for a lunch meeting.

Covid had improved work/life balance...
35-40 minutes in the morning  
Rob in Rockaway : 8/6/2022 9:14 pm : link
45-60 minutes in the evening. Belt Parkway every day. Worst drivers on the planet. I don't want to hear any arguments. You take your life in your hands every time you get on that road.
100% remote  
Joey in VA : 8/6/2022 9:45 pm : link
Since about 2019 and I will never go back.I am unfortunately available 24x7 because we do work globally but I can do it all without leaving my living room.
About 20 minutes.  
Devour the Day : 8/6/2022 9:51 pm : link
Post crud I now only go into the office now 3 days a week.
The entire office dynamic and telework has changed so much.
Still coming to grips with it and figuring out if the work mission is truly being completed. Work for DoD Army and all our programs have so pushed to the right and very concerned on the path forward.
I've been 100% remote since 2015  
Scyber : 8/6/2022 10:35 pm : link
From 2012-2015 I was 15 minutes away from the office, but could also work from home frequently.

2008-2012 I was fully remote.

Before that I was nearly 90 minutes door to door.
I  
jtfuoco : 8/7/2022 2:08 am : link
Went from a daily 45 mins to now 1:45 but only once a week. once we went to 90% telework I moved way out in the country and I will never go back to that daily grind ever again
Pre-covid it was 1:40 each way  
sb from NYT Forum : 8/7/2022 2:15 am : link
...Which sucked, because it's 26 miles and I can walk up a hill in my neighborhood and see Manhattan... and yet it took me nearly 2 hours each way.

Walk to Train then walk across Grand Central to subway... then walk to work in FiDi.

Almost 4 hours away from home and not getting paid for it kinda sucks. At least I had time to read. Not so much anymore.
RE: Pre-covid it was 1:40 each way  
CMc in 342 : 8/7/2022 3:08 am : link
In comment 15773682 sb from NYT Forum said:
Quote:
...Which sucked, because it's 26 miles and I can walk up a hill in my neighborhood and see Manhattan... and yet it took me nearly 2 hours each way.

Walk to Train then walk across Grand Central to subway... then walk to work in FiDi.

Almost 4 hours away from home and not getting paid for it kinda sucks. At least I had time to read. Not so much anymore.


I hear you SB!

Dread moving back to VA. 29 miles from DC — 2 plus hrs in the a.m. and about 1 1/4 p.m. if I work late to 7 or so. All traffic all the time. Bumper to bumper all the way. Sometimes I feel like I live in the car.
48 miles EW  
redwhiteandbigblue : 8/7/2022 3:40 am : link
60 minutes in, 75 minutes home on good days. Remote 2 days a week during COVID. Northern Bergen Cnty to Woodbridge.

Banker. Gotta do what ya gotta do.
short  
OBJRoyal : 8/7/2022 6:16 am : link
3-4 minutes in the summer months, and about 15 mins in the winter
5 mins. or less.  
Bubba : 8/7/2022 6:53 am : link
My office is 2 blocks from my home.
I commuted to Manhattan  
johnnyb : 8/7/2022 7:33 am : link
from NJ for twenty six years. My office is now two miles from my house. Talk about a quality of life change! Worked from home during COVID like most, but happy to return to the office.
Talk about a commute  
pjcas18 : 8/7/2022 9:19 am : link
my father drove from New Haven to Wall Street and back every day for a decade plus.

I didn't live with him (parents were divorced, he was remarried) He'd leave the house around 4:30/5am and get home around 7pm.

I think he enjoyed the time out of the house, to be honest, lol.
Retired now  
VTChuck : 8/7/2022 9:53 am : link
but it used to be 20 minutes.... over a combination of paved and dirt roads. Sometimes longer in winter and mud season
30-35 minutes  
NINEster : 8/7/2022 10:18 am : link
one subway line.

1:20 door to door…  
trueblueinpw : 8/7/2022 10:32 am : link
I take the LIRR to Penn, train is 37 minutes and then I walk to my office about a mile from Penn. Wfh on Monday and Friday. LIRR is fine, it’s clean and comfortable and reliable. I’ve lived in NJ and CT and the train from my town on the Island can’t be beat.
Remote since 3/2020  
JonC : 8/7/2022 10:45 am : link
I won't go back to commuting into Manhattan. NFW. Commute used to be 75 minutes or more one way, so much wasted time was absolute torture. Now I have an office which is a 30 mile drive and I go there as needed. I'll change jobs before I agree to a Manhattan commute again.
...  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 8/7/2022 10:48 am : link
To each their own, but I hated WFH. Hated it. I like work life separate from home life. I also am an outgoing dude & like seeing people in person, not over a Zoom call or whatever.
Quit a job I enjoyed with long commute  
A-Train : 8/7/2022 11:00 am : link
That I hated. Was a 45 min GSP drive without traffic over the Driscoll. Longest it took was 3.5 hours once when they closed the Parkway. Not long after I decided no more.
Not as many good jobs down here and it took a while to find one. Took so long that I even accepted another job where I had to drive to Cranford over bridge again. Never stopped looking and applying and now have a cushy, scenic commute from Long Branch to Atlantic Highlands.
Worst part of commuting for me were the people who would sneak into an exit late. Mine was 22 East off of the GSP No. I won many a battle with these athletes because I didn't care if anything happened to my car.
Athletes lol auto correct  
A-Train : 8/7/2022 11:00 am : link
A-Holes
RE: ...  
trueblueinpw : 8/7/2022 11:23 am : link
In comment 15773824 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:
Quote:
To each their own, but I hated WFH. Hated it. I like work life separate from home life. I also am an outgoing dude & like seeing people in person, not over a Zoom call or whatever.


Agree. I like being around people too. And not just at the office but out to lunch, after dinner drinks, getting coffee, walking around and even running into my neighbors on the train. Train isn’t bad for me, I have my phone so catch up on BBI, pods, s/m or just relax and look out the window. Wfh is okay, but people who want to do it all the time, like, doesn’t that get isolating? I’m an introvert but still, being at home all the time is not for me.
not me but a friend  
Vanzetti : 8/7/2022 2:14 pm : link
He married this younger woman and she wanted to live in Napa so she could ride horses, even though he worked for George Lucas at ILM, which was in San Francisco (right off the Golden Gate bridge).

The traffic is murder, so he would leave the house in Napa at 4:30 am and get to the city at 5:30 and then take a two hour nap in his car.

Crazy. And needless to say he wound up getting divorced.
Door to door, if I take the subway about 45 minutes  
Matt M. : 8/7/2022 2:15 pm : link
If I drive less than 30 minutes to get there, but parking can be dicey and often takes just as long to find something. And the same route home takes over an hour.
WFH on Mondays and Fridays  
cjac : 8/7/2022 2:58 pm : link
2 days in Freehold is 25 min each way

The one day a week I go into Manhattan is an hour (1:15 on the way home if the traffic sux)
WFH 100% since 3/2020  
Mike from Ohio : 8/7/2022 3:23 pm : link
Do not miss the 40 minute commute in and 40-60 commute back at all. Such a waste of time.

I work with a group that is geographically diverse so I actually see more people now via video call than I did when I was in the office and simply talking to them over the phone.

It helps to have a separate room that is a home office so I can still separate work space from living space.
You can't really be  
pjcas18 : 8/7/2022 3:35 pm : link
introverted and be in sales (can you?). Or maybe you can, and maybe some customers would find it endearing as opposed to the polar opposite alpha type sales person, but I think it's rare.
I am in sales and have been the past decade+, and it was always a "travel/WFH position" without office requirements.

I do like interacting with people, and I still have close friends from office camaraderie's and friendships built up over decades throughout my career. Spanning before and during my move to a sales role - and by friends I mean like going to each others weddings and on vacations together friendships, but I feel like being 100% WFH except for travel is perfect for me now. I never miss a kid's activity that I don't want to miss, I am here to tend to my dogs, and my 1 year old truck has 3800 miles on it. All the negatives of WFH IMO (and there are some such as when you work from home you never leave the office), are negated by the convenience factors.

That said, traveling is such a mental and physical drain, pre-COVID when I was 50% travel (or more) I felt like I was taking years off my life. Sitting in airports during flight delays and cancellations, standing in security lines, sitting on planes not moving on runways, waiting in cab lines, uber lines, using filthy airport bathrooms, eating shitty airport food, surrounded by selfish, annoying, disgusting (in many cases) human beings is like putting your daily dose of human interaction under intense amplification.

I meet with my colleagues as needed at my local office - used to be monthly, now it's mostly quarterly and we do our best to work hard/play hard during those visits and I think it makes that time more special. I continue to make new and expand old work friendships even as I morph into cantankerous old bastard persona.

My commutes...  
Kev in Cali : 8/7/2022 7:47 pm : link
were 35 minutes at best and 1hr at worst, this was in the Sacramento area.

I never worked from home, or rarely did, but I always felt driving in shitty traffic was a waste of 1-2 hours of my day/life. I'll never do more than 30 minutes ever again and much prefer to work on location.

This said, I never liked working from home and would much rather work in office through a "getting to know your people" lens... build camaraderie while working with teams..etc..

I'm sure there are studies/theories being written about this very topic right now on how commuting, WFH, and productivity all intersect (great higher Ed. material IMO).
RE: Unfortunately  
Debaser : 8/8/2022 11:55 am : link
In comment 15773436 DG_89 said:
Quote:
2 1/2 hours since my car died 2 years ago. From Queens to Hicksville. No work from home option with my job, so I do what I have to do to get to work on time. Thankfully in another month or so I'll have a new car so I'll be back to 30 - 45 minute commutes


I used to commute from Queens to Hicksville. I never once took public transportations. I always wondered how long it would take and figured about 2 hours. That was with the bus. I wonder what a lirr commute would have been like however. I would have had to go all the way west to woodside however and then take a train back out east. I can only imagine what that would have cost me and since I was an entry level analyst making like no money would have been completely impractical anyway. i commute 1 hour by subway each way now. yikes I am selling myself short.
About 15 miles, 25 minutes on an average day  
Greg from LI : 8/8/2022 12:05 pm : link
.
A little over an hour each way  
imyrpc66 : 8/8/2022 2:44 pm : link
Allentown to Hazleton (PA) 47 miles one way.
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