How far do you commute?
14 August 2012, 12:59 PM
#1
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How far do you commute?
Afternoon SN 
Not been around here for a while but have been a member for a while.
The question is, how far are most people commuting, and how long does it take?
I'm currently a university student and I've just started a placement as an IT technician. I'll be doing this for a year before going back to Uni for my final year.
I'm from Burton on Trent, but currently living in Stoke on Trent whilst away at uni.
I'm commuting to Birmingham (West Brom) at the moment which is working out at about an hour each way, if the M6 is running smooth
It doesn't bother me that much as I'm used to doing a fair amount of miles, but this is a lot more that I'm used to, and the cost of fuel is killing me
Only being on University placement, I'm being paid about £13k - they're doing me a favor by letting me get experience with no qualification, and I'm doing them a favor by working for pennies!
I understand that long commutes are necessary if you're travelling for a decent wage, (£20,30,40,50k...) but I earn just as much selling kitchens (5 mins from home) 2 days a week, as I do driving to and from Birmingham 5 days a week!
So basically, what sort of millage is everyone else doing?
Scott.
Not been around here for a while but have been a member for a while.
The question is, how far are most people commuting, and how long does it take?
I'm currently a university student and I've just started a placement as an IT technician. I'll be doing this for a year before going back to Uni for my final year.
I'm from Burton on Trent, but currently living in Stoke on Trent whilst away at uni.
I'm commuting to Birmingham (West Brom) at the moment which is working out at about an hour each way, if the M6 is running smooth
It doesn't bother me that much as I'm used to doing a fair amount of miles, but this is a lot more that I'm used to, and the cost of fuel is killing me
Only being on University placement, I'm being paid about £13k - they're doing me a favor by letting me get experience with no qualification, and I'm doing them a favor by working for pennies!
I understand that long commutes are necessary if you're travelling for a decent wage, (£20,30,40,50k...) but I earn just as much selling kitchens (5 mins from home) 2 days a week, as I do driving to and from Birmingham 5 days a week!
So basically, what sort of millage is everyone else doing?
Scott.
14 August 2012, 01:03 PM
#2
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I currently commute 26-27 miles each way and because of the roads that takes 45-55 minutes depending upon the lights, traffic etc.
I'm only doing this until Sept as I've been drafted into another office for the Olympics. After that, and all being well, I'm back to using the tube, bikes and running
I'm only doing this until Sept as I've been drafted into another office for the Olympics. After that, and all being well, I'm back to using the tube, bikes and running
14 August 2012, 01:14 PM
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1hr commute seems pretty normal to me, but then I live in the SE.
It does depend on *how* you travel though; 45m in the car is, IMO, more draining than 1hr on the train, and I speak from experience having just switched from 10 years of 45m-1hr commute by car to 1hr 15m by train each day.
Rather than drive, can you not take the train? A season ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street is £2,600 for the year - a lot, yes, but is it more than the running costs of a car, bearing in mind running costs are more than just fuel? If you're not walking distance to the station you can get folding bicycles pretty cheap; they're common as muck on the London commute, and then you'll get free exercise into the bargain.
You can also do other things on the train; sleep, read, listen to music, watch movies, etc. It also means a lunchtime pint or three means no drive-home worries.
It does depend on *how* you travel though; 45m in the car is, IMO, more draining than 1hr on the train, and I speak from experience having just switched from 10 years of 45m-1hr commute by car to 1hr 15m by train each day.
Rather than drive, can you not take the train? A season ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street is £2,600 for the year - a lot, yes, but is it more than the running costs of a car, bearing in mind running costs are more than just fuel? If you're not walking distance to the station you can get folding bicycles pretty cheap; they're common as muck on the London commute, and then you'll get free exercise into the bargain.
You can also do other things on the train; sleep, read, listen to music, watch movies, etc. It also means a lunchtime pint or three means no drive-home worries.
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14 August 2012, 01:30 PM
#9
Mine is about 1hr20, including a 35min train, and the rest walking.
Would be about 20mins quicker if I took the tube, but will do anything I can to avoid it!
As has been said before, it's less about the duration and more about the stress of your commute - a train is pretty stress-free, whereas being stuck in traffic listening to Chris Moyles can be a nightmare.
Would be about 20mins quicker if I took the tube, but will do anything I can to avoid it!
As has been said before, it's less about the duration and more about the stress of your commute - a train is pretty stress-free, whereas being stuck in traffic listening to Chris Moyles can be a nightmare.
14 August 2012, 01:33 PM
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I have looked into the option of taking the train. One thing I couldn't find out though - Do you have to pay up front for your season ticket, or can you pay interest free or split the cost etc etc?
If weekly/monthly payments options exist then it would be great. I live around 300 yards from Stoke on Trent station, and work is around 1.5 miles from a station so would need transport at this end.
What do you reckon to driving to work on Monday morning, but Monday evening driving to the station and then continue using the train until Friday morning (use car for station>work and work>station) Then use the car to go home on Friday night
Sounds like a bit of a pain, but it's just hit me, and I reckon it's the solution
If weekly/monthly payments options exist then it would be great. I live around 300 yards from Stoke on Trent station, and work is around 1.5 miles from a station so would need transport at this end.
What do you reckon to driving to work on Monday morning, but Monday evening driving to the station and then continue using the train until Friday morning (use car for station>work and work>station) Then use the car to go home on Friday night
Sounds like a bit of a pain, but it's just hit me, and I reckon it's the solution
14 August 2012, 01:49 PM
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1hr commute seems pretty normal to me, but then I live in the SE.
It does depend on *how* you travel though; 45m in the car is, IMO, more draining than 1hr on the train, and I speak from experience having just switched from 10 years of 45m-1hr commute by car to 1hr 15m by train each day.
Rather than drive, can you not take the train? A season ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street is £2,600 for the year - a lot, yes, but is it more than the running costs of a car, bearing in mind running costs are more than just fuel? If you're not walking distance to the station you can get folding bicycles pretty cheap; they're common as muck on the London commute, and then you'll get free exercise into the bargain.
You can also do other things on the train; sleep, read, listen to music, watch movies, etc. It also means a lunchtime pint or three means no drive-home worries.
It does depend on *how* you travel though; 45m in the car is, IMO, more draining than 1hr on the train, and I speak from experience having just switched from 10 years of 45m-1hr commute by car to 1hr 15m by train each day.
Rather than drive, can you not take the train? A season ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street is £2,600 for the year - a lot, yes, but is it more than the running costs of a car, bearing in mind running costs are more than just fuel? If you're not walking distance to the station you can get folding bicycles pretty cheap; they're common as muck on the London commute, and then you'll get free exercise into the bargain.
You can also do other things on the train; sleep, read, listen to music, watch movies, etc. It also means a lunchtime pint or three means no drive-home worries.
14 August 2012, 02:23 PM
#16
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Currently I'm a 1.5mile walk/cycle, but I'm going for a major career progressing and double my current salary job which is 48 miles away :S which I wouldn't be willing to use my 60k mile RB5 for, so I'll be looking at getting a £300 second car for that I think!
14 August 2012, 02:39 PM
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28 miles each way.
Motorbike so 45/50 mins with traffic and 48 mpg
Car at least an hour and lot of sitting in traffic which hammers the fuel consumption.
5t.
Motorbike so 45/50 mins with traffic and 48 mpg
Car at least an hour and lot of sitting in traffic which hammers the fuel consumption.
5t.
14 August 2012, 02:42 PM
#18
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agreed
I do 75 miles a day and it takes about an hour to get there and then another hour(ish) to get back, A and B roads then onto a motorway and then off onto an A road again and then the opposite going home. I'm currently driving a 206 HDI until I get the scooby fixed
windyboy
I do 75 miles a day and it takes about an hour to get there and then another hour(ish) to get back, A and B roads then onto a motorway and then off onto an A road again and then the opposite going home. I'm currently driving a 206 HDI until I get the scooby fixed
windyboy
14 August 2012, 02:57 PM
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I think about an hour a day each way is about the maximum. I've done more and it wears you out. I personally prefer the car as I like the door-to-door stuff.
But for less than a grand you can get a 60 mpg car, say a 306 diesel.
I got sick and tired of it all and my office is now all of 30 metres away.
dl
But for less than a grand you can get a 60 mpg car, say a 306 diesel.
I got sick and tired of it all and my office is now all of 30 metres away.
dl
14 August 2012, 03:27 PM
#23
Pontificating
90 miles round trip, less than an hour in each direction.
I'm lucky as I live 5 min drive from the M3 and work 5 mins the junction I come off at and as I leave after doing the school run (during term) it's usualy fluid.
I'm lucky as I live 5 min drive from the M3 and work 5 mins the junction I come off at and as I leave after doing the school run (during term) it's usualy fluid.
14 August 2012, 03:52 PM
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6 miles for me, 15 minutes in the car, 25 on the bike, in the past 3 weeks I've used the car twice 
I used to commute around 90 mile a day, but did a car share thing so I could relax for three weeks of the month it was still very hard work with all the extra time on either end of the shift
I used to commute around 90 mile a day, but did a car share thing so I could relax for three weeks of the month
it was still very hard work with all the extra time on either end of the shift
14 August 2012, 04:40 PM
#28
I do 80 mile round trip a day, just under an hour each way.
I've got a Diesel Yaris to commute in as there's no way i could afford it in the scoob!
I don't mind it so much as im traveling in north wales so there almost never any traffic to speak of, but there's no way i could commute on the motorways that'd just do my head in!
I've got a Diesel Yaris to commute in as there's no way i could afford it in the scoob!
I don't mind it so much as im traveling in north wales so there almost never any traffic to speak of, but there's no way i could commute on the motorways that'd just do my head in!
