For better or worse, I’ve lived and worked in quite a few cities and towns during my ridiculous life. And I’ve experienced the full spectrum of morning commutes. I’ve been within walking distance a couple of times, and also lived an outrageous number of miles from the office. And everything in between.
My shortest “commute” was in Dunbar, when I was but an ugly teenager. For a couple of years I worked as a stocker at a grocery store called Fas-Chek (wotta dump), which was within rock-throwing distance of our backyard. I know, because I used to throw rocks at it. Heh. Unless it was raining, I walked to work every day.
In Greensboro I had an apartment that was technically within walking distance of Peaches Records, but I always drove. It was probably a mile, give or take, and my cassette deck only had enough time to play half-a-song, until I was parked and hoofing it into the store.
My worst commute was in Atlanta, by far. Toney and I lived together in Little Five Points, the hipster bohemian area of town, but when we started to talk about marriage… we got intrigued with the idea of buying a house.
One day, and I don’t remember how we ended up there, we were in Stone Mountain, checking out a model home inside the main gate of a new housing development. It was WAAAY too far from work, but we went to the open house, anyway.
And we loved it, of course. Our emotions got the better of us, and we began rationalizing the crazy-ass drive we’d have to endure every morning and evening. It was insane, but we eventually justified it to ourselves. Oh, we’re masters at that.
It was probably forty miles, but the first five were the worst. It often took longer to drive the five miles or so to the interstate, than it did to complete the last thirty-five miles of the journey. The traffic was like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s a wonder my brain stem didn’t catch fire, or something. I was stressed into the red zone, almost every day.
But once I get moving… I don’t really mind driving long distances to and from work. It’s alone time with my choice of music, and what’s so horrible about that? I just can’t take sitting in traffic. It makes me insane.
The other bad commute was Los Angeles, of course. It was another forty mile trek, but nearly all interstate. I almost literally didn’t know what to expect each day. It could take me thirty minutes, or two hours. It frequently sucked, but not always. Atlanta was much worse, because of its sucking consistency.
Here (and I’m noticing a pattern) I also drive about forty miles to work. My original job was a lot closer, but that was during a different lifetime. And similar to L.A., I don’t really know what to expect each day. But it’s not because of the number of cars here, but the constant, never-ceasing road work. I-81 South will likely be the cause of my aggravation-triggered death one day. That’s my current prediction.
So, what’s been your best and worst commutes, to date? And how do you amuse yourself if you’ve got an extra-long journey? Audio books? A favorite radio station? CB radio (good buddy)? How do you pass the time, driving to and from work?
Tell us about it in the comments, won’t you?
And also… please help us out with a questionable exercise at Mockable. Right here.
I’ll see you guys tomorrow. I need to drive forty miles again, so if you’ll excuse me…
First!
Work always seems to get in the way.
I walk to work. It takes me 12 minutes. It is not too fun in the winter.
Top 5
7 Miles – top 10
Easiest commute is now. I live 100 yards from my office. Wost commute was Augusta. About 20 minutes depending on traffic. Which always sucked. I cannot imagine what it would be like if it snowed there!
25 miles. Not bad. All interstate.
Worst commute…Columbus Ga(give or take a mile) to Jonesboro Ga. ugh. I was stuck in Columbus to do marital reasons, and my job was in Damn Atlanta. I second that about the traffic down there. Do they not have a long enough drivers ed course or something in Ga? Not sure what the problem is there.
Easiest…when I was 14 I worked at an ice cream store. rode my bike, as cars weren’t in my vocabulary yet. I also got free cones when we closed, so I learned to navigate the dark roads with cones in both hands.
This was a different time and I didn’t have to worry about some Idgit trying to off me or worse.
The Hell known as I66 and the Capital Beltway caused me to buy XM Radio. Before that, I laughed at the notion of people paying cash money for radio, but I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that XM Radio saved some lives, mine amongst them. Don’t miss that place one bit.
I’ve had three (what I call) serious jobs since high school and they’ve all been around 10 min. drives to and from work (barring no wrecks/construction). If I had to drive 40 miles each way to work, I’d carry a gun in my car and probably would be posting this from the prison library computer right now.
Top Ten
405 freeway in LA
West LA to Long Beach, 25 miles
45 minutes or 2 1/2 hours
How do I abuse myself? What in the deep-fried Hell?
Number 11~~
When we had the dairy farm, I would yell for my horse and she would come up to the porch to haul my lazy ass down the lane to the milking barn.
In the winter I walked.
20 minute drive, 15 miles, all State 2 lane roads with plenty of country roads to bail onto in the rare chance there is an accident or you get behind farm equipment.
Back in the day when I worked for a living I was on a project that took an hour and a half one way, that was a fun 4 months.
Longest commute: one hour, suburban Philadelphia.
Shortest: five minutes, rural Ohio.
Philadelphians have developed their own horn language. One doesn’t “merge”, one must “barge”. And everything moves at ridiculously fast clip. In rural Ohio it wasn’t driving so much as “meandering”. People regularly appeared to be waiting for that perfect shade of green at traffic lights. And horns were nonexistent (well, except when I liberally used mine to get people moving). In upstate NY I was regularly at the mercy of Ontario-ans, who I happen to believe are the worst drivers in North America (sorry Canadian Surf Reporters, I’m sure you’re the exception to the rule).
In Pittsburgh I think it’s a happy medium. I’m sure my fellow Yinzers may not agree, but after living in parts east, west, and north I have to say Pittsburgh drivers are least likely to get under my skin. Not that they don’t have their moments, but I don’t find myself climbing up the wheel and inventing new cuss words nearly as much as I did in those other places.
25 miles – I don’t mind it, except on WVU game day when people lose their minds.
10 minutes to current job. Worst was Atlanta, non rush hour, it took me 20 minutes to get to work. Rush hour, my commute was almost 2 hours. with the drive from Bolling AFB to the Pentagon a close second at an hour and a half. FM Talk Radio or CD.
Worst was Rt 128 around Boston. 15 miles of not knowing what will come next. Best is now. I work out of my house. I go down stairs for breakfast and walk back upstairs to my office. The only problem I might have is if the dog goes ass over tits because of a varmit in the back yard. He might run over me coming downstairs as I am going up stairs. He sits in a window “guarding” the back yard…
I need some help surf reporters. I can’t find the update where Mr. Kay finished the holiday story about N&N. You know what I mean, all the car trouble and what not. I seemed to have missed that update so if someone could link me to it I’d appreciate it.
woah the bunker cam puts a new meaning on blow it out your ass.
Easiest commute was in the Bob Evans days, in South Charleston, when I had a basement apartment just across the street.
Worst was when I moved back here and had to drive to downtown Bradenton every day to work at the crooked little law office. Had to fight off aggressive homeless people quite often, including dragging one for fifty feet who had his arm in my car window.
On IPOD right now- “”Frank’s Wild Years”- Tom Waits
I once had a job where I walked about a mile or two to work every day. Got a terrible case of plantar fasciitis. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis) It was years before I’d be able to take my first steps in the morning without hobbling in pain. Shoulda worn high-tech running shoes instead of my casual work shoes. Live and learn.
These days I have a 30-mile mostly-highway commute. Takes about 40 minutes. Used to listen to Howard Stern on Sirius in the morning, until I got sick of the porn aspects of the show (just because you can do and say anything you want on the radio doesn’t mean you SHOULD do or say anything you want on the radio — listening to women moaning as they straddle the orgasm machine at 7:30 a.m. is not my idea of a pleasant morning ritual). These days I listen to Andrew Loog Oldham’s show on Sirius’ “Underground Garage” (he spins records, and between songs has some very interesting anecdotes about his days as producer/manager of the Rolling Stones in the Swingin’ Sixties). And in the evening commute, it’s either a CD, or I bounce around various Sirius channels. Overall I enjoy my 40 minutes of driving/listening solitude.
Welp, I’ve been Pixburgh for the past 25 years and have come into town from almost every conceivable angle between then and now. I have to say if your commute consists of driving into a black hole called a “tunnel”…then you’re pretty much fucked. Strap yourself in, turn the music up, get your seat nice and ghetto, grab your coffee cause it’s gonna be a while. For some reason in this town when a moving vehicle approaches this so-called black hole, people come to screeching halt. Afraid of what’s on the other end? A phobia of some sort? I never understood this phenomenon. There has actually been studies on this shit. Nothing has been determined as to the reasoning behind this stupidity.
Feast or famine here. I work from home when I am not driving or flying all over the country.
My daily drive is 1.3 miles, that’s round trip to pick up my son from school and get back home. The Evil Twin drives 5 miles each way. The worst was when we lived in Putnam county, but both worked downtown Charleston. The upside of that situation was that we went into work at the same time, so he would drive and I could snooze in the passenger seat.
@Gretchen – Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I’ve had MS for ten years. Let me know if you have questions (eviltwinswife@gmail.com).
bikerchick: Oh yeah, I forgot about the tunnels and their peculiar microcosm. Guess you can tell I don’t go through them on a daily basis. If I did, that would probably skew my opinion of Pittsburgh drivers entirely towards the negative.
Thanks, ETW. When I get a firm diagnosis you might hear from me.
Another vite here for Atlanta…in my case it was the northeast suburbs in Gwinnett County. Non rush-hour, my 6 mile commute form Duluth to Norcross would take 9 minutes. Rush hour, 45 minutes to an hour for the same 6 miles. 4 cycles of every single traffic light to get through them.
I live in Mississippi now primarily because of the Atlanta traffic and overcrowding (4:45PM to be able to get a table at any restaurant without a wait…are you effing kidding me??)
*vote
i have never worked anywhere that didn’t have a 30 to 45 min. commute. worst—philadelphia, hands down, and that’s my home town. i love philly, but it’s the pits to drive in.
now i live north of pittsburgh and i have to agree with gretchen; burghers don’t seem at all bad. they take turns merging and don’t drive like idiots–for the most part.
dorothy: amen
Best, when I was working in a neighbouring town. I lived near the edge of the city and had 2 traffic lights to pass before I got into the open and could plant the right foot to the floorboards. It also helped that I was not working “regular” hours so I was on the road during off-peak hours.
Worst, when I had my hours shifted for a year putting me smack dab in the middle of rush hour both ways. Pissed me off each and everyday since I had no way to utilize side roads to bypass the tards on wheels.
These days, I live relatively close to work, 5 miles, but to get there I need to go through Londons busiest intersection which usually means sitting around edging ahead for 5 minutes or more usually. Takes me almost as long to go these simple short 5 miles as it did for me to pop down to the neighbouring town.
And then there is the fact that I pilot a maintanence truck during the day, my entire day is practically a commute.
Hey, Gretchen – I had to go back a day and catch up my comments to read about your diagnosis. damn. I’m so sorry to hear about the MS. I was experiencing a strange symptom and one neurologist kinda jumped the gun and told me he strongly suspected MS even before I had an MRI. dipshit. fastforward to MRI and lumbar puncture, ruling out MS but symptom still unidentified. oh well. Find an excellent doc and Be Well!
and contact me anytime if you want to chat.
gatemm at labyrinth.net
Easiest commute ever was in high school, when I could walk to work at a K Mart-type store at the end of my street.
Worst commute should have taken only 30 minutes but, because rush hour traffic to Philly was thrown into the mix, it took at least an hour. On a good day. And, if there was an accident or construction, it would add at least another 20-30 minutes to the trip. I used to have to leave home at 6:30 to get there by 8:00. And, even then I would be late at least once a week.
Coming home was just as bad. I used to stay at work late to earn overtime, because I would get home after 6:00 whether I left at 4:30 or 5:00. But when I left at 6:00, I’d make it home by 6:30. Figured I might as well get paid for my time, instead of sitting in my car feeling my blood pressure rise.
Nowadays, my daily commute only takes about 35 minutes or so. It’s a pleasant ride that involves only a short stretch of highway and a lot of country roads. As long as I’m moving, the time in the car doesn’t bother me at all.
I live in The OC/South, and the freeway isn’t just a road–it’s a way of life. I’ve commuted to 4 different office locations–one was 10 minutes on side streets (almost too close to home–there’s something to be said for the sanctity of one’s office), with the rest 10 mins. street/20 mins. freeway. Length of commute is directly related to time of commute, so now I’ve created 7am-4pm work hours for myself to avoid the masses. For the most part I’m able to avoid traffic, unless it rains–in these parts, rain causes more havoc than an overturned Brinks truck in South Central.
In my prior work-life there were occasions–sometimes for weeks at a time–where I’d have to commute to various courthouses, including the “L.A. Law” building downtown. Showtime usually started at 9am and ended at 4:30, and traffic up and down the 5 was the pits. There’s nothing like allocating 1.5 hours for a 40-mile drive only to see it turning into 2.5 hour ordeal–with a judge at the other end who’s not really keen on holding things up for you.
Morning “entertainment” is usually the local (syndicated from L.A.) morning silliness show on the FM classic rock station (which gets turned off as soon as the never-changing rotation of old shit starts playing), while afternoons find me looking for something that suits me on Sirius. Sometimes CNN, sometimes Blue Collar Comedy, sometimes Blues.
Why am I thinking, “TMI…and who really gives a shit?” Oh well…he asked.
Colorado Springs
5 miles
60 min walk
20 Car drive
15 min bike ride
10 motorcycle ride
Checked it today, 79 miles each way for the job I’m currently on and have been on for 6 months.
Let’s see.
Shortest commute was when I worked at the bar in St. Louis. 1/2 mi or so walk.
Longest was my first job out of college. Cincinnati (Norwood) to the ass end of the Dayton airport every day. 70 miles. When I worked in Indy I still lived in Cincy but had a room to sleep in Indy. That was roughly 120 miles which in my opinion is just too far.
My current boss commutes a few times a week from Dallas to OKC.
Pass the time, talk radio, some music, alone/quiet time. Usually I’ll listen to talk radio until I want to punch someone in the face (or fall asleep if it’s NPR) then I switch to music but if I’m not in the right mood that lasts about one song. I have severe music ADD when in a car or drunk. Then after those two options are out I kill the sound and do math problems in my head or think about my day or make up fictionalized scenarios in my brain. Sometimes I masturbate.
NP – Worryin’ Kind – The Reverend Peyton and His Big Damn Band.
My shortest commute was about 10 miles, but it was a high stress job. I’d be in a shitty mood coming and going. I decided to sell my sports car when I tried to pass some old milkshake with a Florida plant and handcaped tag on the right who was dogging it in the left lane. Gave him some shit and he sort of swerved at me. I dared him to hit me and was fully committed to beating the shit out of him if we wrecked.
Longest were 3 jobs about 30 miles away, each in a different direction. Usually about 45 min to an hour; the only difference between them was which window the sun was coming in.
The best places to drive are Detroit and Chicago. Drivers in both cities have places to go and understand the importance of the throttle. I love doing 75+, four or 5 wide with half a car length to the guy in front of you. Seriously, I do.
Indiana and Ohio, whether in the large cities or out in the sticks are the worst. I don;t understnad it, but there appears some sort of pathological inability to operate a motor vehicle at more than 5 miles per hour below the posted limit. Any state that puts yeild signs at the bottom of on ramps is clearly not a place you want to drive.
Florida is another set of problems. See above.
Canadians, particularly in the Toronto area, are a bunch of yahoo’s; especially in rain (God help me, I don’t want to see the place in the snow). It once took me more than 2 hours to cross the city on the expressways. A distance of about 20 miles.
OK places to drive include Boston, NYC (I’ve driven in all 5 burroughs, thank you), Philly, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Western NY, Northern GA, Alabama, and DC. They tend to be a little slow in general, but often achieve posted limits.
WV is fine, but the hills scare me a litte when the weathers bad.
LA was OK too, but I was only there a few days. Other than that I haven’t driven out west much.
My rule of thumbs are:
1. If you’re afraid when you’re behind the wheel GTF off my road.
2. If you aren’t going faster than the people on your riht, move the F over and GTF out of my way.
3. Be moving at the same speed as the cars already on the freeway when you get to the bottom of the on ramp. Getting into the right lane at 45 MPH endangers you and. more importantly, me. I consider this attempted murder on your part and one day will react accordlingly.
4. Speed is life. The brake gets you into more trouble than the throttle will.
5. Rule number 4 is to be suspended if you have a 4X4 in snowy or icy conditions and are driving faster than everyone else on the road. Yes, you won’t get stuck, but 4WD doesn’t help you stop. Slow the F down,
6. ABS doesn’t help either. It just lets you swerve while still under control.
7. Get your headlights aimed and stop hanging on my quarter panel so that your headlights shine into my mirror.
8. Use your cruise control on the highway. I hate having to pass you again and again because you can’t hold your speed.
9. I have the right of way. Always. In every case.
10. If you are not willing to take a life in order to shave 2 minutes off your best travel time then you shouldn’t be driving.
Hugs and kisses
Shortest (and best) commute: right now. 10 steps from my kitchen to my office.
Worst commute: 25 miles of back road to avoid the Philadelphia expressways mentioned by someone earlier in these comments. Apparently I wasn’t the only one with that idea.
Best Commute: My first post-doc position, when I jumped on my bike and rode to work every day (except for snow and ice days, when I was forced to walk). The bike ride was about 7-5 minutes depending on where on campus I was headed. I really enjoyed getting a bit of exercise on the way to work. Seemed to clear my head on the way there, and cleared my work-related mindset before I got home in the evening.
Worst Commute: From a downtown neighborhood in Raleigh, NC to Research Triangle Park. The interstate was always overcrowded and stop-and-roll traffic was the rule for the day both coming and going. I would show to work every morning already stressed out. The job sucked, too.
I believe I have stated before in this forum how much I hated living in Raleigh. This was but one of the reasons for that sentiment.
LHR – agreed, my best commutes have been on bike when I ride parallel of the pathway and passing all the cars on the jamming up on the roads- thinking ‘NaHa’.
From the otherside big pet peeve for bikers, if you are on a DT mainfare, I should not have to pass you more than once.
I’m a way Northern surf reporter and agree with you when I am in Toronto, No-minds driving around with their hands on the horn (shut the F-up), then I live in Vancouver and god forbid it snow there – pure chaos. On the other hand, when spending time in NYC or Miami, no need to go on a rollercoaster – a cab ride is way more scarier.
The worst commute (morning and evening) is my current commute to and from Harrisburg: 65 miles each way.
easiest commute: any job I had in Small Town Indiana, never more then 10 minutes to anywhere.
worst commute: Charlotte to Winston Salem NC. 77 SUCKS, there is no mercy for anything or anyone on that road. It’s a narrow 2 lane interstate that always comes to a screeching halt where it crosses Lake Norman so people can see the sunset or maybe the bikini ladies on the boats. They actually had to start limiting the amount of boats that could anchor there in the summer because of the wrecks it was causing.
prettiest commute: lived at the Outer Banks of NC for awhile, nothing like driving on a mile long bridge over the sound every day. Always something different to see.
current commute: 10 minutes to the office, the best part is coming up over the hill on Airport Road and seeing the mountains stretch out in front of me.
Music: always Classic Rock with a little Bluegrass thrown in.
I agree, if you can’t drive get the f*** off the road. and get the hell out of the left lane if there is someone that obviously wants by.
The only criteria for getting a drivers license in North Carolina is to be able to withstand the flash of the bulb when they take your picture. It must be a state law that they can’t use turn signals here or the cars don’t come with them, I’m not sure yet.
Best commute ever: 1.5 miles. I would go home for lunch.
Worst: My actual office is about 15 miles (35 minutes), which is fine. But I’m only there about half the time, otherwise going to clients’ job sites. If I have to go to downtown DC, it’s about 18 miles and takes 1.5 hours in the morning. Elsewhere in DC can be worse, but most of our DC clients are on K St. or thereabouts.
@Dogberryjr, I know what you mean about 66 and the Beltway – sometimes 30 or 40 minutes to get from Nutley St. to the beltway (about 2 miles).
@Shiny, I don’t know when you were a regular at the ‘Gon, but nowadays it’s one of the very worst places in the DC area to have to go. After an hour-plus slog to drive there, I have to park in the mall and walk about a mile to the Metro entrance, *then* get where I’m going within the building. Very time-consuming.
For entertainment I’ll alternate between the news/weather/traffic station and NPR, sometimes flipping over to the “morning zoo” gang-o-douchebags. When all that gets old, I have some 4,200 mp3s on a USB thumb drive.
Best commute was at either of several remote weather stations that had adjoining living quarters. Stampede Pass, Washington was good…except in the Winter we had to drive a snow cat 15 miles up the mountain. Gig I’m working now is 425 steps from my front door to my office.
Worst was commuting from Mt. Vernon, WA to Seattle…70 odd miles 5 days a week. Totally sucked, and the commute was one of the main reasons I came up to Alaska.
St. Mary’s to Parkersburg was an average commute. Not a lot of traffic, and usually had someone riding with me to keep it from getting boring.
Since I don’t get to drive a whole lot here in Alaska, I usually make a non-stop (except for gas) cross country road trip about once a year…Seattle to Buffalo, NY to visit family. Mostly radio and music to keep from getting bored. Best radio is listening to George Noory and the conspiracy whack jobs while driving through South Dakota in the middle of the night on a nearly deserted Interstate highway. Totally creepy just imagining having the rental car break down alongside the road after listening to that stuff!
My current commute is 50 miles to get to and from the newspaper I work for. It is a long drive up and down hills, but Howard Stern and the gang get me through it. However, without Artie around the show isn’t the same and it makes the commute feel longer.
Good Morning Surf Reporters….
I see I’ve got some reading to do ….
Worst commute none too surprisingly was forth and back from the job I hated the most.
Job sucked worse than the commute
Which made that bitch of a round trip all the more tedious
I entertained my self by smoking cigarettes, digging on the radio and pretending I had dual .50 calibers, air cooled and swivel strut mounted on the hood of the car.
Sometime the cross fire would drown out the music….