Opining on Shorter Commutes
Free Money Finance coincidentally posted an article on shorter commutes by Penelope Trunk, on the same day I said that a shorter commute is one reason why I switched jobs.
So if you have a bad commute, you are probably not very happy. And you should know that a bad commute spills over into all aspects of your life. Raymond Novaco, a psychologist and professor at the University of California, Irvine, found that bad traffic on the way home makes for a bad mood in the evening. This is true regardless of age, gender, income, and job satisfaction.
This was very true for me. I spent the last few months struggling with my office relocation so I could make it to hockey games on time or other events downtown. DC PF Blogger happy hour planning has been a b*tch to say the least. But it’ll be a lot easier with my new gig.
Honestly, I like to be prompt when meeting friends or going to an event. I know most of the times I am late to something it’s because either I didn’t want to go or traffic. It’s rarely anything else. I have the worst road rage feelings in my car on my way in and out of work. It makes me feel ugly and I find it very hard to unwind. I don’t want to talk to anyone for about 15 minutes after arrival. I need to rest alone, or sulk in my beer a few feet away till I’m ready to perk up.
People are very rude non-signalers in the DC area. They also drive faster than I like. Since I like to drive fast, this is really bad. If I’m going 70 mph already, I’m being passed as a slow poke at 80-90 mph. I move out of the fast lane all the time for some yahoo going crazy faster than me.
Truthfully, I think my commute in terms of time will be about the same because of overflowing buses, but I will get enjoyable activities back like walking (in the SNOW. Ok. That’s a yuck, but a winter hike can be fun!), reading, listening to music. Reading is a big thing to me and I am psyched that the bus will drop me off 2 blocks away from the library and I can hoof it home the rest of the way with a New Arrival. I love reading and I am excited to put the library back into my schedule.
Think about the cost of your commute in terms of dollars and psychic dollars. I know I’m saving money on gas, tolls and insurance by switching to the bus (which is potentially reimburseable). I cannot wait to knock down my car insurance to ‘pleasure’ insurance!
Mrs. Micah wrote:
“I have the worst road rage feelings in my car on my way in and out of work. It makes me feel ugly and I find it very hard to unwind.”
One of the biggest reasons I take public transit. I feel like I’m such a bad person when I drive because it brings out all these ugly feelings.
Speaking of Happy Hour, does that mean we’ll have one soon?
Posted on 09-Jan-08 at 12:37 pm | Permalink
Jacob wrote:
You play hockey?
Posted on 09-Jan-08 at 1:16 pm | Permalink
Money Blue Book wrote:
I’ve pondered this issue myself. Would I prefer a nice big house in the suburbs like Germantown but commute 1.5 hours into work each day one way, (3 hours total), or spend 30 minutes one way on the metro but live in a much smaller house. I’d personally take the much smaller house. I can’t stand driving through traffic and long commutes! I’m sure many will disagree with me here
-Raymond
Posted on 09-Jan-08 at 4:09 pm | Permalink
Meadow wrote:
A friend, who underwent the same kind of commute change as you, told me he was keeping his car insured as usual. Why?
Because, although his “pleasure insurance” still permitted him to drive to work 4 days a month or something like that, if he were to get into an accident ON that rare driving to work day, it would be an outrageous ordeal to prove that he hadn’t been driving to work EVERY day on inadequate insurance. Outrageous ordeal meaning, his co-workers would be interviewed by his insurance company and they would have to attest to his almost-never driving and his regular public-transport-taking — and how many of our co-workers are in a position to be able to attest to that? Exactly.
So he kept his insurance, but realized significant savings from his greatly-reduced driving mostly through fewer fillups, but also through reduced mileage, wear and tear, parts and labour, parking costs, and oh yes, the ability to relax and read on the bus.
For your consideration!
Congratulations on your improved quality of life,
Meadow
Posted on 09-Jan-08 at 4:54 pm | Permalink
dakboy wrote:
I don’t think the length of the commute is the only factor. It’s also what happens on that commute.
At my previous job, I first lived 13 miles from work. The commute was OK - only one or 2 bad spots of traffic. Then I moved 5 miles closer, on another side of town, and found that the heavier traffic left me in an incredibly foul mood every night upon my arrival at home.
A couple years later, I moved over an hour away from work (I was looking to change jobs to a new city). I found that, despite the 75 mile drive, I was happier when I got home. The drive was very easy, almost entirely interstate with little traffic. I could get on the road, set the cruise control, and relax and unwind while listening to NPR.
I’ve since changed jobs, and moved again. Traffic does make me rather irritated, but the excitement on my little boy’s face when I walk in the door erases that instantly.
Posted on 09-Jan-08 at 8:53 pm | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
Jacob- No. I have season tickets to the Washington Capitals. I think I wrote about them in the Entertainment category.
Posted on 10-Jan-08 at 12:24 am | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
Meadow- Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. But I’ll have receipts to prove I’m taking the bus a lot. Luckily I can pull electronic records or else pay with cash and get dated receipts to show a trip was taken.
Posted on 10-Jan-08 at 12:27 am | Permalink
thebaglady wrote:
When I was in school i used to take the bus all the time and I loved it. However now I have to drive to work. The drivers here in the Bay Area are horrible and would cut you off without signaling with their expensive cars. I have never worked in a place that’s more than ten miles away because how much I hate to drive.
Posted on 10-Jan-08 at 3:36 am | Permalink