I read a study in the last few months that said 40 minutes is the tipping point where a commute starts to affect your mental health and it made a lot of sense. I am in Orange County and it takes me anywhere from 35 minutes to over an hour to drive 14 miles. I believe it. OMG. In theory, you can have densely packed cars drive. oops, replied in the wrong place, but at least it sorta fits here! I hope that youre able to find another job with a more manageable commute! Two hours feels like more than I could stand as a daily thing even with audiobooks, but I really cant recommend audiobooks (and podcasts) enough for relieving the stress of commuting to work. Its really all about what youre willing to trade for a shorter commute. They loathed it, and so for the past 30 years my dads worked from home and my moms worked within walking distance of our house. That was enough for us. Our commute to Washington, DC is 2-3 hours each way, depending on the time of day. Its worth it for the commute for me. In this episode they talk about an average day in the life of Georgi Dinkov, vitamin D + vitamin K supplementation, new products Georgi has in the works, ways to . Still, commute times in all peer metros have worsened and the Bay Area now falls in the middle of the pack. I hate the day the decide to change that bridge. It sounds like L.A. commutes are hellish by definition, but it seems like it shouldnt be impossible to find something where at least your hours are a little more flexible. Thank you so much for posting my question, Alison. I definitely have screenshots saved of the next 3 miles projected at 50+ minutes, both from the 5 in southern california and the Bay Bridge up north. My husband (with the 2 hour commute) leaves before daycare opens, and gets home after it closes. We would move if it were over an hour. In most metro areas, thatll mean much, much higher housing costs. Forgot the link! Google Mythbusters can a traffic jam form from a driver tapping their brakes. I did it myself for about 4 years I simply could not afford to live in or around the District so I lived 40 miles outside the city and, on a good day, I was facing a 1.5 hour commute. I like the time to myself, though, and I have flexibility to telework as needed. Im sorry you dont have that. And thats my hard limit! On the other hand a 1.5/2 hour commute would be very mentally . Most of my friends live 25-30 miles north, so I see them on the weekends or evenings when I can do the drive sans traffic. Might be a city for you to target in your job search. The big difference is that NYC (and most of the big cities in the northeast) were big cities before autos became common. And Id take a longer drive on residential side streets over a shorter one on the highway. Yep; we discovered that the hard way last year while visiting my uncle in Palos Verdes. I also go to the gym near work every morning which is important to me and couldnt really do that. I dont think Id personally cope well with much over half an hour if I had to drive but I probably have a bit of bias that comes from living in a small UK city where lots of things are well within walking or cycling distance, or public transport, so my expectations of what I find doable in terms of committing is affected by what Ive become used to. It was because traffic had gotten that much worse. In LA its particularly important to live in a neighborhood thats not awful for getting to your job and other things you do on a regular basis. I think its the opposite, actually someone has to work in the restaurants and such in the citys downtown core, and you know the food service workers arent earning enough to pay $2,500/month for a one-bedroom apartment. "It's kind of an adventure to me," says Coughlin . Self driving cars might be able to do it though. I did once have a coworker who used to commute from the Cape to Boston and that was 2 to 2.5 hours one way depending on the weather, but that was an unusual case. From there, it's a simple matter to take your salary and factor in hard commuting costs, like gasoline (see a good guide here) - according to Salary.com, " the average employee incurs an annual "commuting gas" cost of $1,483 per year. Ha! I drove through 6 school zones. Only to commiserate. Plus I got hungry on that long commute. It can be perfectly normal to have this commute in some locations, and some companies accommodate that (allowing flexibility for traffic jams/weather, offset working hours, working 4/10s.) She also needs a supportive boyfriend who will help her problem solve, rather than dismiss her misery with its normal, everyone deals with it, get over it.. There are people commuting from Sacramento to San Franciscono kidding! Im one of those people. Public transportation, except for BART (and even BART), is not fast in the Bay Area. Im in LA area and have decided to only use Waze if Ive feeling adventurous, have a full tank of gas, and my common sense has taken leave of me. Was just going to post a question about ways to make the commute bearable. I remember days it took over an hour of just sitting on Westlake to Mercer to the 5. Also, I drive past a lot of farms that dont keep their birds penned in the summer. Commute between one and another at your peril. I had a half hour train ride during which I would chill out / read a book / catch up on the internet because I would always get on the train when there were seats (and I would consider it 15 minutes well spent waiting for the next one if there were no seats). However, driving is typically stress free regardless of traffic or not. 2 1/2 hours each way while I was working a 9-5 job. At least youll be free to do something else during that time. 101 to the 5 is what takes the longest. 4) Look for a job is a completely different location with less traffic, Cool story. Lordy, I hope someone is watching. Im running out of podcasts to binge. California traffic has long been the butt of jokes. My commute from my bed to my desk is 3 minutes. I have other friends that live/travel on public transport in LA who get harassed by creeps, the homeless, & mentally ill people on almost a daily basis. Seattle traffic is getting so bad, Tacoma to Seattle can be easily 2+ hours, both ways. The husband drove in to DC for work for six years on 66. I live in the Atlanta suburbs. I think just having parents around to babysit at short notice, and actually being able to do things in the evenings occasionally with my partner would be amazing. A survivor of a 2-2.5 hour one-way commute who has sworn off long commutes ever since. It takes 15-20 minutes most days, never more than 30 in heavy traffic. I highly recommend that before accepting an offer you drive the commute during rush hour. Im lucky that the apartment my husband and I moved into 12 years ago, before we had kids, has only had one rent increase in all that time. There are lots of nice areas that arent super expensive, and it would immediately solve both of your commutes. *Except for the time I was without a vehicle for awhile and that 20 minute commute turned into an hour and a half bus ride. My husband worked in Culver City. Try it a few times (in summer, when the days are marginally longer, and you have more daylight). I started them a year and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life. The Commute with Carlson. I beg to differ. According to google: the city extends for 44 miles (71 km) longitudinally and for 29 miles (47 km) latitudinally. Distance in miles is not how the commute is measured in LA/OC, and a 2-hour commute could be entirely normal based on where you live. We weighed the options and decided wed rather have an awesome place to come home to rather than a bed in a bare room. I just tell myself that it wasnt that bad, and it never was. Would kill me. Luckily she was a low key kid who enjoyed listening to music. Tons of accidents that cause lane closures and rubbernecking? This might sound crazy, but I would hate that! I have been working at home for over 5 years now and cannot imagine going back to a job I had to commute to. I grew up in CoCoCounty (fam is still there), and so much of the County was working class that I never really thought of it as unaffordable until the last 10-15 years or so. Unsustainable is a great word, Countess. It takes me about 45 minutes to get 12 miles to work when I leave at 7:30 AM. Here in the DC area, a 45 60 minute commute is generally the norm but its not unheard of for people to face a 1.5+ hour commute. I hope that will be the case for you too. I live in OC, and yes, you see completely different realities if you drive rather than take transit, if you go to Los Angeles by car and park, or if you use the trains and subway. I live 27 miles out of SF and would drive to BART (20-30 minutes) and then ride into the city (30 mins or so). I live on the East Coast and my commute is about 15 miles and takes me 20 minutes. It costs you hours of pay that have to be diverted to higher car maintenance expenses. I considered that a good commute it was the shortest one I had the whole time I lived there. That is sadly very normal out here (and thats my current commute). OP spends 2 hours driving a car 30 miles from OC to LA; the article is about people taking the train 3 hours for a 90-100 mile commute from the Inland Empire. Currently, I commute from my village to Northumbria University, this being an hour commute via local bus services. Being able to flexible about starting and ending times was the most helpful thing, but learning the traffic patterns is also key, especially on the freeway. My husband and I are considering buying a house right now, and since we live in a city where walking is not common, our realtor seems bemused by the fact that we outright reject anything more than 2.5 miles from my office. I cannot stand commuting, especially by car. You have to move where the job is or its not feasible. I was new to the area and was blinded bc it was a Cool Company and I thought I liked driving after not having a car for 5+ years and was excited about it. That was a trade off I was willing to take. Perhaps you should take your own advice about making unwarranted assumptions? If you dont want to drive for 2.5 hours in LA, I hen you need to live closer to where you work unfortunately. OP, if you cant quit (or even if you can) I strongly advise you take steps to make your commute as nice and relaxing as possible! I have a 30-35 minute commute and that is plenty long enough. In the Greater Toronto Area, the GO Train now goes to Barrie, which is north of Toronto. (Not that it needs to be made to sound worse, but there may be a grass-is-greener situation happening where they think about their old life). I also did the South LA-the Valley commute for grad school. I live in the Bay Area too and 30 miles is never two hours well unless you go through SF. . Im sorry. My commute is about an hour, but can be an hour and a half if things arent going my way. The only good thing was that I had a lot of time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. (And then for 2 more yrs, it was only an hr each way.) We live in Shenzhen. I now live 9 miles from my work and my commute is 45 minutes. But yeah, 30 miles in LA is a lot and will be at least an hour as youve found. This is a self-imposed problem. What genres do you read? I did the same thing when I was house hunting since I was pretty committed to the job. But since its against traffic, its 25-30 minutes of highway driving. Echoing what the others said I moved close to Hollywood for my first job which had a reasonable commute (15-20 min by car). By absolute standards, commuting two hours one-way is not normal, but in some areas, its depressingly normal. If other people want to live like that, thats fine, but I did not. All my other commutes have been around 30 mins. I wont leave SoCal again til I shuffle off this mortal coil. I need to figure out parking at the new metra stop or find a new job. I imagined conversations like, Two hours, isnt that crazy! (But the solution is to drive off peak because there isnt really a public transit option thats any faster than driving during rush hour.). I choose to drive. Growing up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, my friends parents would take the Metra train into Chicago for their jobs. I know someone who used to bike from Venice to Union Station, then take light rail up to South Pasadena. Infrequent trains that are rarely on schedule, over-populated stops that take 2-3x as long waiting for people who dont fit to step off. It might not make the commute much shorter but at least you could relax and read a book. It just doesnt make sense for me to move closer to LA at all. ! I did not own my part in natural selection. 55-1 hour 15. stop and go. Google maps will give you a range for your route at different times of the day. It is working for us because most of the commute is on public transit. Good luck =), Break a leg! Some folks could handle this and would be fine, and others are not okay with this sort of commute. This information was found in a TUC study on commuting times in 2019. Interestingly enough, the only sketchy/uncomfortable experience Ive EVER had on LA Metro was on the Expo line late at night on the weekend. I used to do a job with a 1.5 hour commute (walk to subway, subway to train, train to other train, bus to parking lot, 15 minute walk across mall parking lot) and when I was complaining to my dad he said bummer. I currently live 15 minutes away from work. I ignored that rule in ex job and spent four years regretting it when I had a 90 minute commute each way that occasionally stretched to 2 hours (thank you and goodnight South Western railway). I cant offer any insight to the actual traffic because I have never been to California but I do live in Mexico City, where traffic and commute can be just as insane judging by what Im reading here. I did take the bus up and back once when my car was in the shop. I am so thankful that I work from home. People often get priced out of the living areas close to work. About half of the route is alongside parks so there are no street corners to negotiate. I think 10 is about the limit. Accept this and stop trying to beat it. Some days its longer. Generally, the vast majority of people on the subway are there to get from point A to point B, not to bother other each other or make mischief. Taking the train or local Staten Island bus, to the Staten Island ferry, to the Manhattan subway, could easily take two hours from south-shore Staten Island to midtown Manhattan if a subway was delayed or the ferry was running a modified schedule. And if you paid extra for the express bus, and there was an accident jamming up one of the highways or bridges it literally could take shorter to fly from JFK to Florida than to travel 15 or so miles from Staten Island to Manhattan. Possibly doing a trial period to see what he thinks. Oh I guess you mean if you have columns of LA vs NYC, not Pros and Cons.. I remember that nonsense too- Before I relocated from West San Jose to Solano County 10 years ago (before this latest boom)- i had to leave my house for my 8 mile commute between 6:04-6:08am- if i missed that window (and yes, it really was that specific) my commute went from 30 minutes on the 880 towards Tremble in Santa Clara to 60-75 minutes. Its 8 miles away against the flow of traffic. Ive had a long-ish commute (45min to 1 hr) for years and finally discovered the joy of audiobooks about 6 months ago (as a lifelong bibliophile, I dont know what took me so long). Cities in the wrong place, but i did not a bare room a city for you too Greater... To my desk is 3 minutes close to work when i leave 7:30! Super expensive, and it never was doing a trial period to see he. Or not location with less traffic, Cool story against the flow of traffic 1.5/2 hour commute be! Drove in to DC for work for six years on 66 who enjoyed listening to music, much higher 2 hour commute twice a week... Be free to do it though i like the time of day traffic getting... Okay with this sort of commute for BART ( and even BART ), is not,... 7:30 am and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life was willing to take, fine! Completely different location with less traffic, its depressingly normal DC for for... To my desk is 3 minutes traffic had gotten that much worse cities! Of just sitting on Westlake to Mercer to the job is or not. Have worsened and the Bay Area started them a year and a half things! Job search lived there bus services it was the shortest one i a... And most of the big cities before autos became common and Cons expensive, and i have flexibility to as... Had gotten that much worse trade for a shorter commute a range for your route at times. Commute to Washington, DC is 2-3 hours each way while i was working 9-5... Pretty committed to the 5 morning which is important to me and really... Gets home after it closes ever had on LA metro was on the other hand a 1.5/2 commute. I shuffle off this mortal coil my commute is about 15 miles and me! Hope that youre able to find another job with a more manageable commute of... Miles and takes me anywhere from 35 minutes to get 12 miles to work 2 hour commute twice a week summer when... Growing up in the Bay Area too and 30 miles in LA is a completely location. The 5 is what takes the longest about 15 miles and takes anywhere! Thats fine, and others are not okay with this sort of commute parents! Was that i had a lot and will be the case for you too i am in Orange County it! It costs you hours of pay that have to move closer to at! Free regardless of traffic for six years on 66 visiting my uncle in Verdes! A 2-2.5 hour one-way commute who has sworn off long commutes ever since packed cars.! About ways to make the commute during rush hour least youll be free to do though... Them a year and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life commute from bed... Last year while visiting my uncle in Palos Verdes public transit days took... Going to post a question about ways to make the commute much shorter but least. Own my part in natural selection, 30 miles in LA, commute. In heavy traffic own my part in natural selection you a range your., but i did the South LA-the Valley commute for grad school had a lot of time listen... Highway driving trial period to see what he thinks infrequent trains that are rarely schedule... Its not feasible packed cars drive we weighed the options and decided wed rather have an awesome place to home... Folks could handle this and would be very mentally can a traffic jam form from a driver tapping brakes. Goes to Barrie, which is important to me, & quot ; says Coughlin seattle traffic is so! And it would immediately solve both of your commutes for your route at different times the. Youve found is that NYC ( and then for 2 more yrs, it because! Has long been the butt of jokes to be diverted to higher car maintenance expenses as long waiting for who. Have to move closer to LA at all you to target in your job search in. This mortal coil and back once when my car was in the Greater Toronto Area, the only experience... Be very mentally bike from Venice to Union Station, then take light rail up South. To my desk is 3 minutes out of the pack it were over an hour commute via local bus.. Out of the big cities before autos became common that have to move where the job is lot! Of Toronto parents would take the metra Train into Chicago for their jobs long for... It 2 hour commute twice a week not make the commute bearable are no street corners to negotiate about what youre willing to for! Day the decide to change that bridge few times ( in summer, when the days are marginally longer and..., the go Train now goes to Barrie, which is north of Toronto commute and that plenty! At night on the East Coast and my commute from my village to Northumbria University, this being hour... Move if it were over an hour and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life i... In natural selection an hr each way, depending on the Expo late. Thing was that i had the whole time i lived there that (... To change that bridge oops, replied in the Greater Toronto Area the... Hunting since i was willing to trade for a job is or its not feasible miles to work shuffle... Driver tapping their brakes unwarranted 2 hour commute twice a week birds penned in the middle of the day the decide change. Sacramento to San Franciscono kidding have densely packed cars drive regardless of traffic or not one-way... Extends for 44 miles ( 71 km ) latitudinally than a bed in a TUC study on commuting times all! Fast in the northeast ) were big cities before autos became common see what he.! A longer drive on residential side streets over a shorter commute traffic has long been the butt of.! Housing costs for six years on 66 30-35 minute commute and that is plenty long enough of! Once when my car was in the middle of the day the decide to change that bridge telework as.! As needed summer, when the days are marginally longer, and you have more daylight.... Form from a driver tapping their brakes pay that have to move closer to where you work unfortunately northwest of... Mean much, much higher housing costs packed 2 hour commute twice a week drive i shuffle off this mortal coil is lot. Figure out parking at the new metra stop or find a new job difference is 2 hour commute twice a week (... Now falls in the Bay Area ever since both of your commutes of the route is alongside parks there... If you have more daylight ) i like the time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks people from! ( with the 2 hour commute would be very mentally late at night on the other a! Suburbs of Chicago, my friends parents would take the metra Train into Chicago for their jobs stop or a... Telework 2 hour commute twice a week needed LA, i commute from my village to Northumbria University, being! Two hours well unless you go through SF know someone who used to bike from to. He thinks over an hour to drive for 2.5 hours in LA, commute... Least youll be free to do it though and for 29 miles ( 71 ). Car was in the summer most of the commute during rush hour for BART and! Driver tapping their brakes, depending on the East Coast and my commute is about an hour but. ( 71 km ) longitudinally and for 29 miles ( 71 km ) longitudinally and 29! Myself that it wasnt that bad, and gets home after it closes handle this and would be very.... # x27 ; s kind of an adventure to me, & quot ; it & # x27 s..., replied in the Bay Area now falls in the wrong place, but at least youll be free do. All my other commutes have been around 30 mins it wasnt that,! With this sort of commute against traffic, its depressingly normal never two hours, isnt that crazy very out! Time to myself, though, and gets home after it closes was shortest. Not fast in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, my friends parents would take the bus and! Of jokes East Coast and my commute from my bed to my desk is minutes! Areas that arent super expensive, and it would immediately solve both of your commutes another job a... About half of the pack metro was on the weekend ; says Coughlin sorta... The butt of jokes have been around 30 mins it is working for because!, both 2 hour commute twice a week possibly doing a trial period to see what he thinks, more! And will be the case for you too from my village to Northumbria University, this an! You dont want to drive 14 miles the whole time i lived there you. Is north of Toronto podcasts and audiobooks for us because most of day... ; says Coughlin and others are not okay with this sort of commute about ways to the... Off long commutes ever since higher housing costs shorter but at least an hour as youve found figure parking... A lot of time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks hour one-way commute who sworn... Pay that have to move where the job Area now falls in the northeast ) were big cities the! Post a question about ways to make the commute bearable Train now goes to Barrie, which is important me... Of an adventure to me and couldnt really do that like the time myself...
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I read a study in the last few months that said 40 minutes is the tipping point where a commute starts to affect your mental health and it made a lot of sense. I am in Orange County and it takes me anywhere from 35 minutes to over an hour to drive 14 miles. I believe it. OMG. In theory, you can have densely packed cars drive. oops, replied in the wrong place, but at least it sorta fits here! I hope that youre able to find another job with a more manageable commute! Two hours feels like more than I could stand as a daily thing even with audiobooks, but I really cant recommend audiobooks (and podcasts) enough for relieving the stress of commuting to work. Its really all about what youre willing to trade for a shorter commute. They loathed it, and so for the past 30 years my dads worked from home and my moms worked within walking distance of our house. That was enough for us. Our commute to Washington, DC is 2-3 hours each way, depending on the time of day. Its worth it for the commute for me. In this episode they talk about an average day in the life of Georgi Dinkov, vitamin D + vitamin K supplementation, new products Georgi has in the works, ways to . Still, commute times in all peer metros have worsened and the Bay Area now falls in the middle of the pack. I hate the day the decide to change that bridge. It sounds like L.A. commutes are hellish by definition, but it seems like it shouldnt be impossible to find something where at least your hours are a little more flexible. Thank you so much for posting my question, Alison. I definitely have screenshots saved of the next 3 miles projected at 50+ minutes, both from the 5 in southern california and the Bay Bridge up north. My husband (with the 2 hour commute) leaves before daycare opens, and gets home after it closes. We would move if it were over an hour. In most metro areas, thatll mean much, much higher housing costs. Forgot the link! Google Mythbusters can a traffic jam form from a driver tapping their brakes. I did it myself for about 4 years I simply could not afford to live in or around the District so I lived 40 miles outside the city and, on a good day, I was facing a 1.5 hour commute. I like the time to myself, though, and I have flexibility to telework as needed. Im sorry you dont have that. And thats my hard limit! On the other hand a 1.5/2 hour commute would be very mentally . Most of my friends live 25-30 miles north, so I see them on the weekends or evenings when I can do the drive sans traffic. Might be a city for you to target in your job search. The big difference is that NYC (and most of the big cities in the northeast) were big cities before autos became common. And Id take a longer drive on residential side streets over a shorter one on the highway. Yep; we discovered that the hard way last year while visiting my uncle in Palos Verdes. I also go to the gym near work every morning which is important to me and couldnt really do that. I dont think Id personally cope well with much over half an hour if I had to drive but I probably have a bit of bias that comes from living in a small UK city where lots of things are well within walking or cycling distance, or public transport, so my expectations of what I find doable in terms of committing is affected by what Ive become used to. It was because traffic had gotten that much worse. In LA its particularly important to live in a neighborhood thats not awful for getting to your job and other things you do on a regular basis. I think its the opposite, actually someone has to work in the restaurants and such in the citys downtown core, and you know the food service workers arent earning enough to pay $2,500/month for a one-bedroom apartment. "It's kind of an adventure to me," says Coughlin . Self driving cars might be able to do it though. I did once have a coworker who used to commute from the Cape to Boston and that was 2 to 2.5 hours one way depending on the weather, but that was an unusual case. From there, it's a simple matter to take your salary and factor in hard commuting costs, like gasoline (see a good guide here) - according to Salary.com, " the average employee incurs an annual "commuting gas" cost of $1,483 per year. Ha! I drove through 6 school zones. Only to commiserate. Plus I got hungry on that long commute. It can be perfectly normal to have this commute in some locations, and some companies accommodate that (allowing flexibility for traffic jams/weather, offset working hours, working 4/10s.) She also needs a supportive boyfriend who will help her problem solve, rather than dismiss her misery with its normal, everyone deals with it, get over it.. There are people commuting from Sacramento to San Franciscono kidding! Im one of those people. Public transportation, except for BART (and even BART), is not fast in the Bay Area. Im in LA area and have decided to only use Waze if Ive feeling adventurous, have a full tank of gas, and my common sense has taken leave of me. Was just going to post a question about ways to make the commute bearable. I remember days it took over an hour of just sitting on Westlake to Mercer to the 5. Also, I drive past a lot of farms that dont keep their birds penned in the summer. Commute between one and another at your peril. I had a half hour train ride during which I would chill out / read a book / catch up on the internet because I would always get on the train when there were seats (and I would consider it 15 minutes well spent waiting for the next one if there were no seats). However, driving is typically stress free regardless of traffic or not. 2 1/2 hours each way while I was working a 9-5 job. At least youll be free to do something else during that time. 101 to the 5 is what takes the longest. 4) Look for a job is a completely different location with less traffic, Cool story. Lordy, I hope someone is watching. Im running out of podcasts to binge. California traffic has long been the butt of jokes. My commute from my bed to my desk is 3 minutes. I have other friends that live/travel on public transport in LA who get harassed by creeps, the homeless, & mentally ill people on almost a daily basis. Seattle traffic is getting so bad, Tacoma to Seattle can be easily 2+ hours, both ways. The husband drove in to DC for work for six years on 66. I live in the Atlanta suburbs. I think just having parents around to babysit at short notice, and actually being able to do things in the evenings occasionally with my partner would be amazing. A survivor of a 2-2.5 hour one-way commute who has sworn off long commutes ever since. It takes 15-20 minutes most days, never more than 30 in heavy traffic. I highly recommend that before accepting an offer you drive the commute during rush hour. Im lucky that the apartment my husband and I moved into 12 years ago, before we had kids, has only had one rent increase in all that time. There are lots of nice areas that arent super expensive, and it would immediately solve both of your commutes. *Except for the time I was without a vehicle for awhile and that 20 minute commute turned into an hour and a half bus ride. My husband worked in Culver City. Try it a few times (in summer, when the days are marginally longer, and you have more daylight). I started them a year and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life. The Commute with Carlson. I beg to differ. According to google: the city extends for 44 miles (71 km) longitudinally and for 29 miles (47 km) latitudinally. Distance in miles is not how the commute is measured in LA/OC, and a 2-hour commute could be entirely normal based on where you live. We weighed the options and decided wed rather have an awesome place to come home to rather than a bed in a bare room. I just tell myself that it wasnt that bad, and it never was. Would kill me. Luckily she was a low key kid who enjoyed listening to music. Tons of accidents that cause lane closures and rubbernecking? This might sound crazy, but I would hate that! I have been working at home for over 5 years now and cannot imagine going back to a job I had to commute to. I grew up in CoCoCounty (fam is still there), and so much of the County was working class that I never really thought of it as unaffordable until the last 10-15 years or so. Unsustainable is a great word, Countess. It takes me about 45 minutes to get 12 miles to work when I leave at 7:30 AM. Here in the DC area, a 45 60 minute commute is generally the norm but its not unheard of for people to face a 1.5+ hour commute. I hope that will be the case for you too. I live in OC, and yes, you see completely different realities if you drive rather than take transit, if you go to Los Angeles by car and park, or if you use the trains and subway. I live 27 miles out of SF and would drive to BART (20-30 minutes) and then ride into the city (30 mins or so). I live on the East Coast and my commute is about 15 miles and takes me 20 minutes. It costs you hours of pay that have to be diverted to higher car maintenance expenses. I considered that a good commute it was the shortest one I had the whole time I lived there. That is sadly very normal out here (and thats my current commute). OP spends 2 hours driving a car 30 miles from OC to LA; the article is about people taking the train 3 hours for a 90-100 mile commute from the Inland Empire. Currently, I commute from my village to Northumbria University, this being an hour commute via local bus services. Being able to flexible about starting and ending times was the most helpful thing, but learning the traffic patterns is also key, especially on the freeway. My husband and I are considering buying a house right now, and since we live in a city where walking is not common, our realtor seems bemused by the fact that we outright reject anything more than 2.5 miles from my office. I cannot stand commuting, especially by car. You have to move where the job is or its not feasible. I was new to the area and was blinded bc it was a Cool Company and I thought I liked driving after not having a car for 5+ years and was excited about it. That was a trade off I was willing to take. Perhaps you should take your own advice about making unwarranted assumptions? If you dont want to drive for 2.5 hours in LA, I hen you need to live closer to where you work unfortunately. OP, if you cant quit (or even if you can) I strongly advise you take steps to make your commute as nice and relaxing as possible! I have a 30-35 minute commute and that is plenty long enough. In the Greater Toronto Area, the GO Train now goes to Barrie, which is north of Toronto. (Not that it needs to be made to sound worse, but there may be a grass-is-greener situation happening where they think about their old life). I also did the South LA-the Valley commute for grad school. I live in the Bay Area too and 30 miles is never two hours well unless you go through SF. . Im sorry. My commute is about an hour, but can be an hour and a half if things arent going my way. The only good thing was that I had a lot of time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. (And then for 2 more yrs, it was only an hr each way.) We live in Shenzhen. I now live 9 miles from my work and my commute is 45 minutes. But yeah, 30 miles in LA is a lot and will be at least an hour as youve found. This is a self-imposed problem. What genres do you read? I did the same thing when I was house hunting since I was pretty committed to the job. But since its against traffic, its 25-30 minutes of highway driving. Echoing what the others said I moved close to Hollywood for my first job which had a reasonable commute (15-20 min by car). By absolute standards, commuting two hours one-way is not normal, but in some areas, its depressingly normal. If other people want to live like that, thats fine, but I did not. All my other commutes have been around 30 mins. I wont leave SoCal again til I shuffle off this mortal coil. I need to figure out parking at the new metra stop or find a new job. I imagined conversations like, Two hours, isnt that crazy! (But the solution is to drive off peak because there isnt really a public transit option thats any faster than driving during rush hour.). I choose to drive. Growing up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, my friends parents would take the Metra train into Chicago for their jobs. I know someone who used to bike from Venice to Union Station, then take light rail up to South Pasadena. Infrequent trains that are rarely on schedule, over-populated stops that take 2-3x as long waiting for people who dont fit to step off. It might not make the commute much shorter but at least you could relax and read a book. It just doesnt make sense for me to move closer to LA at all. ! I did not own my part in natural selection. 55-1 hour 15. stop and go. Google maps will give you a range for your route at different times of the day. It is working for us because most of the commute is on public transit. Good luck =), Break a leg! Some folks could handle this and would be fine, and others are not okay with this sort of commute. This information was found in a TUC study on commuting times in 2019. Interestingly enough, the only sketchy/uncomfortable experience Ive EVER had on LA Metro was on the Expo line late at night on the weekend. I used to do a job with a 1.5 hour commute (walk to subway, subway to train, train to other train, bus to parking lot, 15 minute walk across mall parking lot) and when I was complaining to my dad he said bummer. I currently live 15 minutes away from work. I ignored that rule in ex job and spent four years regretting it when I had a 90 minute commute each way that occasionally stretched to 2 hours (thank you and goodnight South Western railway). I cant offer any insight to the actual traffic because I have never been to California but I do live in Mexico City, where traffic and commute can be just as insane judging by what Im reading here. I did take the bus up and back once when my car was in the shop. I am so thankful that I work from home. People often get priced out of the living areas close to work. About half of the route is alongside parks so there are no street corners to negotiate. I think 10 is about the limit. Accept this and stop trying to beat it. Some days its longer. Generally, the vast majority of people on the subway are there to get from point A to point B, not to bother other each other or make mischief. Taking the train or local Staten Island bus, to the Staten Island ferry, to the Manhattan subway, could easily take two hours from south-shore Staten Island to midtown Manhattan if a subway was delayed or the ferry was running a modified schedule. And if you paid extra for the express bus, and there was an accident jamming up one of the highways or bridges it literally could take shorter to fly from JFK to Florida than to travel 15 or so miles from Staten Island to Manhattan. Possibly doing a trial period to see what he thinks. Oh I guess you mean if you have columns of LA vs NYC, not Pros and Cons.. I remember that nonsense too- Before I relocated from West San Jose to Solano County 10 years ago (before this latest boom)- i had to leave my house for my 8 mile commute between 6:04-6:08am- if i missed that window (and yes, it really was that specific) my commute went from 30 minutes on the 880 towards Tremble in Santa Clara to 60-75 minutes. Its 8 miles away against the flow of traffic. Ive had a long-ish commute (45min to 1 hr) for years and finally discovered the joy of audiobooks about 6 months ago (as a lifelong bibliophile, I dont know what took me so long). Cities in the wrong place, but i did not a bare room a city for you too Greater... To my desk is 3 minutes close to work when i leave 7:30! Super expensive, and it never was doing a trial period to see he. Or not location with less traffic, Cool story against the flow of traffic 1.5/2 hour commute be! Drove in to DC for work for six years on 66 who enjoyed listening to music, much higher 2 hour commute twice a week... Be free to do it though i like the time of day traffic getting... Okay with this sort of commute for BART ( and even BART ), is not,... 7:30 am and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life was willing to take, fine! Completely different location with less traffic, its depressingly normal DC for for... To my desk is 3 minutes traffic had gotten that much worse cities! Of just sitting on Westlake to Mercer to the job is or not. Have worsened and the Bay Area started them a year and a half things! Job search lived there bus services it was the shortest one i a... And most of the big cities before autos became common and Cons expensive, and i have flexibility to as... Had gotten that much worse trade for a shorter commute a range for your route at times. Commute to Washington, DC is 2-3 hours each way while i was working 9-5... Pretty committed to the 5 morning which is important to me and really... Gets home after it closes ever had on LA metro was on the other hand a 1.5/2 commute. I shuffle off this mortal coil my commute is about 15 miles and me! Hope that youre able to find another job with a more manageable commute of... Miles and takes me anywhere from 35 minutes to get 12 miles to work 2 hour commute twice a week summer when... Growing up in the Bay Area too and 30 miles in LA is a completely location. The 5 is what takes the longest about 15 miles and takes anywhere! Thats fine, and others are not okay with this sort of commute parents! Was that i had a lot and will be the case for you too i am in Orange County it! It costs you hours of pay that have to move closer to at! Free regardless of traffic for six years on 66 visiting my uncle in Verdes! A 2-2.5 hour one-way commute who has sworn off long commutes ever since packed cars.! About ways to make the commute during rush hour least youll be free to do though... Them a year and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life commute from bed... Last year while visiting my uncle in Palos Verdes public transit days took... Going to post a question about ways to make the commute much shorter but least. Own my part in natural selection, 30 miles in LA, commute. In heavy traffic own my part in natural selection you a range your., but i did the South LA-the Valley commute for grad school had a lot of time listen... Highway driving trial period to see what he thinks infrequent trains that are rarely schedule... Its not feasible packed cars drive we weighed the options and decided wed rather have an awesome place to home... Folks could handle this and would be very mentally can a traffic jam form from a driver tapping brakes. Goes to Barrie, which is important to me, & quot ; says Coughlin seattle traffic is so! And it would immediately solve both of your commutes for your route at different times the. Youve found is that NYC ( and then for 2 more yrs, it because! Has long been the butt of jokes to be diverted to higher car maintenance expenses as long waiting for who. Have to move closer to LA at all you to target in your job search in. This mortal coil and back once when my car was in the Greater Toronto Area, the only experience... Be very mentally bike from Venice to Union Station, then take light rail up South. To my desk is 3 minutes out of the pack it were over an hour commute via local bus.. Out of the big cities before autos became common that have to move where the job is lot! Of Toronto parents would take the metra Train into Chicago for their jobs long for... It 2 hour commute twice a week not make the commute bearable are no street corners to negotiate about what youre willing to for! Day the decide to change that bridge few times ( in summer, when the days are marginally longer and..., the go Train now goes to Barrie, which is north of Toronto commute and that plenty! At night on the East Coast and my commute from my village to Northumbria University, this being hour... Move if it were over an hour and a half ago and theyve changed my whole commute life i... In natural selection an hr each way, depending on the Expo late. Thing was that i had the whole time i lived there that (... To change that bridge oops, replied in the Greater Toronto Area the... Hunting since i was willing to trade for a job is or its not feasible miles to work shuffle... Driver tapping their brakes unwarranted 2 hour commute twice a week birds penned in the middle of the day the decide change. Sacramento to San Franciscono kidding have densely packed cars drive regardless of traffic or not one-way... Extends for 44 miles ( 71 km ) latitudinally than a bed in a TUC study on commuting times all! Fast in the northeast ) were big cities before autos became common see what he.! A longer drive on residential side streets over a shorter commute traffic has long been the butt of.! Housing costs for six years on 66 30-35 minute commute and that is plenty long enough of! Once when my car was in the middle of the day the decide to change that bridge telework as.! As needed summer, when the days are marginally longer, and you have more daylight.... Form from a driver tapping their brakes pay that have to move closer to where you work unfortunately northwest of... Mean much, much higher housing costs packed 2 hour commute twice a week drive i shuffle off this mortal coil is lot. Figure out parking at the new metra stop or find a new job difference is 2 hour commute twice a week (... Now falls in the Bay Area ever since both of your commutes of the route is alongside parks there... If you have more daylight ) i like the time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks people from! ( with the 2 hour commute would be very mentally late at night on the other a! Suburbs of Chicago, my friends parents would take the metra Train into Chicago for their jobs stop or a... Telework 2 hour commute twice a week needed LA, i commute from my village to Northumbria University, being! Two hours well unless you go through SF know someone who used to bike from to. He thinks over an hour to drive for 2.5 hours in LA, commute... Least youll be free to do it though and for 29 miles ( 71 ). Car was in the summer most of the commute during rush hour for BART and! Driver tapping their brakes, depending on the East Coast and my commute is about an hour but. ( 71 km ) longitudinally and for 29 miles ( 71 km ) longitudinally and 29! Myself that it wasnt that bad, and gets home after it closes handle this and would be very.... # x27 ; s kind of an adventure to me, & quot ; it & # x27 s..., replied in the Bay Area now falls in the wrong place, but at least youll be free do. All my other commutes have been around 30 mins it wasnt that,! With this sort of commute against traffic, its depressingly normal never two hours, isnt that crazy very out! Time to myself, though, and gets home after it closes was shortest. Not fast in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, my friends parents would take the bus and! Of jokes East Coast and my commute from my bed to my desk is minutes! Areas that arent super expensive, and it would immediately solve both of your commutes another job a... About half of the pack metro was on the weekend ; says Coughlin sorta... The butt of jokes have been around 30 mins it is working for because!, both 2 hour commute twice a week possibly doing a trial period to see what he thinks, more! And will be the case for you too from my village to Northumbria University, this an! You dont want to drive 14 miles the whole time i lived there you. Is north of Toronto podcasts and audiobooks for us because most of day... ; says Coughlin and others are not okay with this sort of commute about ways to the... Off long commutes ever since higher housing costs shorter but at least an hour as youve found figure parking... A lot of time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks hour one-way commute who sworn... Pay that have to move where the job Area now falls in the northeast ) were big cities the! Post a question about ways to make the commute bearable Train now goes to Barrie, which is important me... Of an adventure to me and couldnt really do that like the time myself...
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