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How Long Does it Take You to Get to Work?

NAPA Net readers are spread across the country, from coast to coast (and then some) – so what’s a “normal” commute for you?

The most common response to this week’s NAPA Net reader poll was “45 minutes or so,” cited by a plurality (42%) of this week’s respondents, while a slightly higher 43% said that was the average length of their trip home.

However, nearly a third (32%) said 15 minutes or less for the trip in – though nearly 36% said that was what the trip home took, and 22% were looking at 30 minutes or less for the trip in, and for 19% that was their homeward bound journey length.

The rest were split between those at the longer end – 1.5 hours was cited by several – and a number of telecommuters and home office. And some in the “other” category, like the reader who said their commute was “15 minutes – but I have daycare/school drop off – so it takes me 30 minutes.”

Pedal ‘Mettle’?

Perhaps accounting for some of the variability in the commutes, more than 9 in 10 of this week’s respondents drive to work, with the remaining 10% split nearly equally between those who walk and those who take advantage of mass transit.

Most (71%) – though not all – of this week’s respondents are in the office five days a week, 15% are there four out of five days, just under 10% are only there three days a week, and the rest – well, they are “almost never” in the office. Or, as one reader explained, “I’m in some time during the day but typically have a meeting or two outside of the office almost every day.”

But after those varying commutes and venues, once they get to the office, the first thing that most – nearly 84% – of respondents do is check their email. A few (13%) get coffee/caffeine, and most of the rest check their news. There were, however, other choices: the reader who “…reviews for meeting (staff or client) or prepare for presentation to prospect,” several who review their “to do” lists, and the reader who “reads a current ‘thriller’ for about 30 minutes to ease into being at the office.”

Trip ‘Wire’

But it wouldn’t be a reader poll about work commutes without a few stories about how wild that commute can be. Here’s a sampling:

“Train hits a car/person, is held indefinitely for police, need to wait for bus to complete the journey. Has happened more than once.”

“Getting caught in a police chase and gunfight on the feeder street resulted in a total shutdown on the street and a two-hour wait for things to clear.”

“When the gas tanker crashed and burned the highway I had a nice 8-hour commute home... although I did end up stopping to meet some other commuters for drinks in the middle of that ride.”

“Midwestern snow storms with interstate being closed.”

“During a very small snow storm in South Carolina, bridges were shut down and I was trapped for 4 hours before they got enough salt on the bridge.”

“I didn't always live 10 minutes from the office,” noted one reader. “About 15 years ago I had a about a 40 minute drive (including traffic, but under ‘normal’ rush hour conditions). And then there was the snowy day. We actually closed the office early, but it took me 4e hours to get home nonetheless. But of course this was including the stop I made at a grocery store (normally about a 15-minute drive from home, but almost an hour from that point that day) to use the facilities and pick up a few things while I was there.”

“I lived in the bay area (Nor Cal) for 14 years. On a horrible rain day, underpasses were flooded all over. Basically a lot of side street usage, and my commute that day was probably 3 hours.”

“Due to a snow storm it took me 4 hours to get home.”

One reader explained that, “Richmond, Virginia doesn’t have bad traffic, especially to/from my destination.” On the other hand, the commute is “due East and due West, so at certain times of the year the sun is blinding.”

However, this week’s Editor’s Choice (and one I can relate to) was: “During the part of the year when I leave home in the dark I am terrified of hitting a deer. I have had them jump in front of my car or in front of the car I am following. Sometimes I see then standing at the edge of road like they are just waiting for me. All this deer terror and I live in the city limits!”

Thanks to everyone who participated in this week’s NAPA Net reader poll!

Got something you’d like to run by our readership? Want to know what’s on your peers and colleagues minds? Post it in the comments section below – or email me at [email protected].

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