So I'm curious to see what your daily commute is like. How long does it take you to get to work? How far is it from your home? And how many traffic lights do you pass to get there?
Mine is fairly easy to count. 15 minutes, about 9 miles to work, and 4 red lights
12 minutes, 6 miles, 9 signals. 1 interstate, 1.5 US routes, and 1 state route, along with several unnumbered city streets.
May-October: approx 2 miles each way, approx 5 minute driver, no traffic lights, all local town roads (paved and dirt)
November-April: approx 0.5 miles each way, 10 minute walk, no traffic lights, combination of resort roads & ski trails
Yeah I know, I've got it rough. :)
10 miles, 7-10 minutes depending how fast I choose to drive, one stop sign, two left turns. Unnumbered road, US 90, Walton county road 1087, Walton county road 2A. Opposite commute, in the a.m. everyone is going the other way, same on way home, love it!
Until about a year ago it was 2.5 miles, 2.4 miles on one street, about 16 signals. 8-10 minutes.
Now it's about 12.5 miles (but no freeways), about 33 signals. Takes 19-25 minutes depending on time of day.
Both are great by Southern California standards, but I'm trying to decide if I want to move closer to my current job.
To work: 11 miles give or take; 13 minutes is my record, 16 minutes typical worst case. If I can make a left from my driveway, I hit four lights, otherwise eight. Rarely, I subtract 3 traffic lights but add 3 miles and 1-2 minutes, if my usual exit is backed up.
From work: The big variable, this. If I can follow my usual route, there's 11 miles and 6 lights (2 of them are between the WB exit and EB entrance that I use). If the I-80 WB onramp is backed up badly or I stop at the supermarket, add 5 more lights on US 46. If both 80 and 46 are backed up badly (usually they work in pairs), I have to go the back way, which is another 1.5 miles and also 5 more lights. Altogether, if I leave work in the 5-6 window I generally need 20-25 minutes to get home, whereas best case is under 15 minutes.
Starting late August: 20-30 minute walk, 1.4 miles.
3 miles, about 5-6 minutes.
To work: 2 stop signs, 1 traffic light (left turn).
From work: 2 traffic lights (both right turns), 1 stop sign.
All on unnumbered two-lane semi-rural/suburban roads.
Maybe 10 signals, but it's a one-way street and they're all coordinated. About 7 miles on the 210 freeway and then 2 more signals after I exit at Santa Anita Rd.
Going to work: 11.3 miles, no stoplights, 13 minutes.
Coming home from work: 10.9 miles, one or two stoplights (my exact route depends on what point in the stoplight sequence I arrive at the Kellogg/Oliver), anywhere from 13 to 16 minutes depending on traffic.
Along the way, I traverse a Texas-style crossover, a 400-series US highway duplex, a turbine interchange, an elevated freeway with a canal down the middle, and an intersection with no side-mounted stoplight (gasp!)
http://goo.gl/maps/Fv4I (http://goo.gl/maps/Fv4I)
I walk from the third floor to the first floor of my building. Like working from home but not really.
I work out of the home office these days, so no commute.
I do take my wife to the subway in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon. The nearest stop is two miles away through seven traffic lights. Depending on the traffic, that drive can take over half an hour, so sometimes we go to the next-closest stop at the end of the line (perhaps three or four miles the other way through seven lights). It's a longer ride for my wife but it can be a lot faster to get there.
When you live in urban south Florida, ALWAYS have an alternative/escape route. :D
I have the good fortune of earlier work hours than most, drive opposite to the great majority of traffic patterns (west vs. east and north-to-south) in the morning, and have chosen my most recent commuting route based upon a very helpful program where Broward County has re-timed many traffic signals.
My 10-1/2-mile commute passes 23 signals, of which, only six usually turn red. There have been many good mornings where I have only encountered just three red signals. My commute time is usually 18 minutes and with the newly coordinated signals, the most efficient route has allowed better gas mileage, often saving at least one gallon of gas per fill-up.
45 minutes, 28 miles, 10 signals, 2 interstates, 2 US routes, and 4 state routes, and about five surface non-numbered routes. Plus three bridges from 1940!
As the crow flies my office and my apartment are about 2 1/2 miles apart. On the ground the distance I have to cover is more like 3 1/2 to 4 miles. This takes half an hour door to door: ten minutes walking to the subway station, a couple minutes waiting for the train, fifteen on the train, and then finally another couple leaving the station and crossing the street to the building where I work at the other end.
To sort of answer your last question as best as it applies, all seven intersections I walk through are signalized. I don't know exactly how many rail signals the trains I take pass en route but it must be dozens (I want to say they're spaced every 600 feet, but don't quote me on that).
32 miles, typically 40 minutes, three Kentucky state routes, five signals (soon to be six when the new KY 15 routing in Jackson is tied into the existing route).
It takes a little longer to get home, even if I don't make any stops, because traffic is usually heavier in Jackson in the afternoons than the morning.
Longest commute I ever had was six months of a 95-mile one-way drive that typically took two hours. Drove from rural Lee County to Frankfort.
Shortest commute I ever had was a year of living in the building where I worked.
Twenty miles, twenty minutes. Eighteen of those miles are on one state highway. The first two miles are a combination of town streets and another state highway.
Over the past year, it was 33 miles in 1 hour, no matter which route I took. My main one was up US-30 to IL-59 to I-88 to Farnsworth Ave, which becomes Kirk Rd, to St Charles. Then back down Kirk Rd to I-88 to I-355 to I-55 to US-30. That was way faster, but longer, than IL-59. Now, it's 20 miles in 1/2 hour. Across Caton Farm Rd to IL-47 to Yorkville (and back). Less gas, less time, fewer assholes, fewer headaches.
Usual commute:
Two stops on residential streets (3-4 blocks), then route 132 from Beauharnois to Léry: no signals. In theory, a third of it is 50 km/h, another third is 90 km/h and the rest is 70 km/h. In practice, you're driving 70 the entire time, and it's nearly impossible to do 90 because there's ALWAYS someone, somewhere, driving way below that. Passing zones are rare and unusable during rush hour anyway. Then there's the first signal to turn across the tracks, then three more signals on the way. Half 70 km/h, half 50 km/h, mostly because of construction on the A-30 extension. After that, it's A-30, 100 km/h legally, 120 in practice. Exit at 730, then immediately at exit 2. Park at Sainte-Catherine Station, wait (or run) for train.
Car leg: 16.6 miles, 25-30 minutes.
Train from Sainte-Catherine to Lucien-L'allier in downtown Montreal. 30 minutes, unless the bridge is lifted for a boat. Roughly 11-12 miles.
Walk exactly 1 mile on René Lévesque Street., or take the metro to Place-des-Arts or Place d'Armes. 20-30 minutes depending on various factors (waiting for trains in the metro, signals when walking).
Total, 1.5 hours, 29 miles or so.
Other option: Cross the Mercier Bridge (route 138), park at the Angrignon metro station. Taking traffic and costs into account, it's roughly the same.
100% driving option: 45 minutes with no traffic. 1 hour in moderate traffic. 1.25 - 1.5 hours in heavy traffic. Parking costs between $15 and $20 depending on where you park. Daily.
13 Miles, 17 minutes. Three stop signs, 2 traffic signals (or 2 stop signs, 4 traffic signals, or 3 stop signs, 3 traffic signals)
All two lane roads, 11 miles rural-suburban, 2 miles urban.
Normal
- 4.6 miles: 1.1-freeway / 3.5-city streets
- 2 roundabouts, 1 stop sign, 1 traffic light
Backroads
- 4.4 miles: 2.6-town/country roads / 1.8-city streets
- 2 roundabouts, 4 stop signs
Alternate
- 4.7 miles: 2.3-freeway / 2.4-city streets
- 4 traffic lights
Biking
- 4.1 miles: 1-bike trail / 3.1-city streets
- 2 roundabouts, 2 stop signs, 1 traffic light
When I move in a couple weeks, it will be one mile less for all options.
Going to work:
2 local municipal roads, 2 stop signs, County road with one signal, short trip on I-80 from one entrance to the next exit, short section of state highway, and I pass through the same signal along it twice going different directions (I detour for coffee)
Going home:
Exactly 2 miles via local municipal roads...no stop signs or signals
My commute to work takes place at 12:30 AM. This makes things quick, but also variable since the stoplights are all on actuated mode, so if a bunch of people decide to get on OK-9 when I'm trying to go through, I can be stopped at every light. Although some times I'm the only one on the road and I can just breeze straight through. It takes no more than ten minutes.
On the way back, it's around 8 AM opposite the heavy traffic flows, but this depends more on the day of the week than anything; I have smooth sailing on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but not so much other days of the week. I usually get home between 8:20 and 8:30.
My commutes about 4-5 miles and 10 minutes as long as I can hit the lights right. The slowest part is Washington Avenue between Hamblin and Champion because of traffic and lights timed at 40+ mph instead of the 30 mph speed limit. The road diet on Battle Creek's portion north of Michigan doesn't help the flow much. When I go directly to my apartment from work on afternoons, I catch the first shifters leaving the factories from the Fort Custer area, so sometimes the left turn to get to my building takes a little longer when there are fewer breaks in traffic.
About 12 miles each way. 5ish miles of US1, 5ish miles of MA129, then 2 miles of backroads.
On the way there, 18 stop lights, 13 of which are in the last two miles. One stop sign, one rotary. Of the first nine, only one or two are red. Of the last 13, around 9-10 are usually red. Because of that, it takes 15-20 minutes for the first 10 miles and 10-15 for the last two.
On the way back, it changes to 15 lights, 2 stop signs, and a rotary. Usually takes a bit longer due to traffic, 35-40 minutes or so.
2 miles @ 10 minutes by bike.
4.3 miles: about 10 minutes by car, about 20 minutes by bike.
About six miles, taking 10-15 minutes. Depending on which route I take, I have to go through either five or six traffic lights. I don't have to take the freeway unless I really want to. I'd only have to go through one light if I did that.
Quote from: realjd on June 18, 2012, 09:28:37 AM
4.3 miles: about 10 minutes by car, about 20 minutes by bike.
Almost the same for me. 4.1 miles, usually 10 minutes in the morning, more like 12 in the afternoon, 25 minutes by bike. Girlfriend and I moved halfway between our jobs. Loving it!
18.9 miles. if I beat the traffic, that's 17 minutes. if I don't, it's as much as an hour.
so I try to get in to work by 6.30am, and then I really try my best to not leave between 2.30 and 7. generally I try to work 6.30-2.30 but occasionally it ends up 6.30-7.
62 miles each way...
37 miles of I-95
22 miles of DC Beltway
8 stoplights total.
70 minutes in (leaving at 445)
100 minutes out (leaving at 430)
2 hrs in the afternoon is regular occurrence. Once a month or so I get one 3+ hours.
Mapmikey
Normal:
Walk 1/2 mile to SEPTA Secane train station (Media/Elwyn Regional Rail Line).
Inbound train to Philadelphia (Market East station)
Walk about 1/2 mile from Market East to work (near Independence Hall)
Travel time (including walking) about 45 minutes
When I need to drive to work
From home to I-95/PA 420 interchange
10 traffic lights for roughly 3 miles
I-95 from PA 420 (Exits 9A/B) to Exit 22 (I-676/US 30/Callowhill St.) roughly 13 miles
Depending on which parking facility I use 8 or 12 traffic lights, roughly 1 to 1-1/2 miles
Travel time (without major traffic back-ups) about 30 minutes
Reason for choosing the train over driving despite the longer travel time: Parking costs (ranging from $10-18 per day).
About 14 miles, just about exactly an hour from door to door. Whole mess o' traffic lights and innumberable subway signals!
My normal commute: 1.0 mile, 3 minutes, 0 traffic lights, 2 stop signs.
The beauty of being assigned a field job at a project down the street from your house.
Days I have to drive to the district office (in Arlington, MA) though my commute is 37.9 miles, ~130 minutes, including 18 miles of MA 128 - the most horridly congested road I have ever had the misfortune to use at rush hour.
Quote from: texaskdog on June 18, 2012, 10:21:07 AM
Quote from: realjd on June 18, 2012, 09:28:37 AM
4.3 miles: about 10 minutes by car, about 20 minutes by bike.
Almost the same for me. 4.1 miles, usually 10 minutes in the morning, more like 12 in the afternoon, 25 minutes by bike. Girlfriend and I moved halfway between our jobs. Loving it!
I do have to make a left turn on the way home. I'll lose a minute or two there some times. But yes, I love living close to my job in a location with minimal traffic problems. And I love being an easy bike ride away for much of the winter when we have nice weather. This time of year, not only is it hot and humid, there are very commonly thunderstorms hitting right as I'm leaving work.
~35 miles for me... out of my neighborhood.. 5 miles on SR 21( 4 lane divided hwy.. 5 traffic lights) 14 miles on Brannan Field Rd( i think CR 220A but soon to be First Coast Outer Beltway(SR 23) 2 lane county road but parts are SR 23 a super 2 ...5 traffic lights)... i am so looking forward to the completed SR 23 even though it will be tolled.. then about 15 miles on I-10( SR 8) and 4 miles on I-95( SR 9) ... worst part it the the county road no passing and 45MPH speed limit and as always too safe sally is going 35 MPH and the traffic lights can get huge back ups. I-10 is almost always stop and go inside the I-295 beltway
it can take 1 hour to get home if i leave at 5PM... if i leave at 6PM its takes 40 minutes
Interstate routing: ~ 28 miles
2 stop signs NB/ 1 stop sign SB
5 stoplights
4.6 miles Saturn Parkway (TN 396)
15.4 miles I-65
so 20 miles freeway
30-40 minutes off peak, peak time, 60-90 min or no way!
Back way ~ 21 miles
14 miles free run back road
NB
4 stop signs
10 traffic lights
SB
3 stop signs
9 traffic lights
about 35-40 minutes off peak 50-55 min peak
I live in a rural area, so traffic is not a concern. One major plus to living in a small town!
If I take US 151, it's about 6.25 miles, and takes me 6-7 minutes. One stoplight at the turn into work.
If I take Cty XX, it's about 6 miles and again 6-7 minutes, and the one stoplight at the turn into work.
The only things that might slow me down are getting stuck behind a tractor or an Amish buggy, or if Old Farmer Brown is out for a Sunday drive.
A five-block walk. :-)
About 12 minutes.
There's a bus that goes nearly door to door when I'm a little late.
It depends on my mood and whether I need to make any stops on the way into work:
Most mornings, local roads to PA-413 to I-95 to US-1 in Lawrenceville, NJ. Then a few miles on 1 and some local and county roads. The return trip in the evening is the same route in reverse. 7 lights in PA and 6 in NJ. Around 30 miles and 40 minutes (give or take 5 minutes depending on traffic, the lights, and prevailing speeds on the Interstate.
Some days it's US-13 to US-1, then the same local and county roads from there. Around 24 miles and about the same amount of time. 5 lights in PA and 7 in NJ.
I prefer I-95 because traffic tends to run at a more consistent speed (plus it's a much safer highway, anyway, with longer sight lines and wider curves -- even if some of my fellow Pennsylvanians don't seem to think so and slow down every time there's a curve). I am looking forward to the improvements that are forthcoming during the Scudders Falls Bridge work, though. It'd be nice if PennDOT would raise the limit through that area to 65 as well, since I think it's a much safer road at that speed than the Turnpike (and it's way better than the 1 and 13 freeways, which are both 55). At least the PA Troopers seem to enforce it as if it were a 65 zone.
2.7 KM......the mornings a breeze......no traffic. But at 4:30......I could be waiting 5 minutes to get out into traffic on the Trans Canada at an uncontrolled intersection.
........That should all change in a few weeks when the new TCH104 By-pass opens!
I only work two days a week, but my commute is quite short.
1.7 miles, about 5 minutes, little traffic, two stop signs, two stoplights
For work, however, we routinely go 50+ miles per day. Yesterday, we went 134 miles (Manistee > Benzonia > Kaleva > Ludington > Manistee) in about 5.5 hours.