Commuting Stress

[BrumJim]

Said car, but on reflection, it is the bus. What other mode of transport runs every 5 minutes, but you have to wait 10 every time you are in a hurry, but catch one immediately when you have left a little too much spare time? Where people still think it is OK to smoke and scratch the windows? That is public transport, but still gets stuck in the worst traffic queues. Where you can't get up and walk around, and there is no toilet, but don't have your own personal space as per the car?

Still, when having had a few, there are no alternative options.

 

[nightoff]

For those who would like a little piece and quite on the train away from the Dom Joly types on their mobiles, could this be the answer?

clicky

Not tried it personally, and not sure of the legal status in this country. It could make train and bus commutes a little more interesting though.

 

[fimm]

I think, for me, the few times I have had to drive to work have been very stressful, but I suspect that that is to do with the fact that I am not a good driver and find driving stressful - I have a particular dislike for motorways (here's a stat - I was over 30 the first time I drove on a motorway, and it was in Spain!) I like my bike - train - bike commute - the train is mostly reliable (yes there are occasional problems but at least I'm not walking into the office ranting about the traffic on the bypass again), and my fellow commuters are usually quiet and pleasant. Yes you do get the odd loud phone idiot, but not often. Cycling all the way is good, but it is 16 miles each way so I don't do it every day.

 

[cyberknight]

We have no public transport of any kind going to where i work so i either drive or cycle.

For me cycling is more stressful if i get some numpties giving me close overtakes but on the whole the fresh air,scenery and time to myself make up for it compared to just whizzing along in a metal box.

 

[ianrauk]

I think, for me, the few times I have had to drive to work have been very stressful, but I suspect that that is to do with the fact that I am not a good driver and find driving stressful - I have a particular dislike for motorways (here's a stat - I was over 30 the first time I drove on a motorway, and it was in Spain!) I like my bike - train - bike commute - the train is mostly reliable (yes there are occasional problems but at least I'm not walking into the office ranting about the traffic on the bypass again), and my fellow commuters are usually quiet and pleasant. Yes you do get the odd loud phone idiot, but not often. Cycling all the way is good, but it is 16 miles each way so I don't do it every day.

You could quite easy build up to 16 miles cycle commute each way.
I now do a 35 mile round trip. 2&half years ago I was doing bike/train, but then thought bugger it, let's get on and see how it goes. Have been cycling the full distance ever since.

 

[Jezston]

You know what I hate people doing on trains?

(what's that, you don't want to know?!? Well tough!)


It's a trend I've noticed starting recently. Sitting on the outside i.e. closest to the aile seat in a pair to 'discourage' people from attempting to sit next to you.

It's a trend I've now noticed on PLANES. On budget airlines where you don't have a reserved seat, I've started seeing people sitting on the aile seat of a 3-seat row, just to see if they can get the whole row to themselves.

I used to work with a guy who HATED people sitting next to him on public transport and would do whatever he could to avoid it such as the above tricks, putting stuff on the other seat, and even getting huffy with people if they had reserved the seat next to him. He also used to get pissed off if people used cubicles next to him in toilets. Incidentally, this individual also happens to be a terrible, hateful, backstabbing, arsekissing, arrogant and selfish little c*nt.

 

[davefb]

You know what I hate people doing on trains?

(what's that, you don't want to know?!? Well tough!)


It's a trend I've noticed starting recently. Sitting on the outside i.e. closest to the aile seat in a pair to 'discourage' people from attempting to sit next to you.

It's a trend I've now noticed on PLANES. On budget airlines where you don't have a reserved seat, I've started seeing people sitting on the aile seat of a 3-seat row, just to see if they can get the whole row to themselves.

I used to work with a guy who HATED people sitting next to him on public transport and would do whatever he could to avoid it such as the above tricks, putting stuff on the other seat, and even getting huffy with people if they had reserved the seat next to him. He also used to get pissed off if people used cubicles next to him in toilets. Incidentally, this individual also happens to be a terrible, hateful, backstabbing, arsekissing, arrogant and selfish little c*nt.

its all ben eltons fault..

tbh, one reason i used to do this on buses was to get leg room . not too bad on trains, apart from the horrid 'bus-like' ones

 

[ianrauk]

its all ben eltons fault..

tbh, one reason i used to do this on buses was to get leg room . not too bad on trains, apart from the horrid 'bus-like' ones

Double Seat Double Seat.... Got to get a Double Seat

 

[fimm]

You could quite easy build up to 16 miles cycle commute each way.
I now do a 35 mile round trip. 2&half years ago I was doing bike/train, but then thought bugger it, let's get on and see how it goes. Have been cycling the full distance ever since.

Oh yes, I'm sure I could. I do it once or twice most weeks. I don't do it every day because it takes longer, and I do triathlons so I like to have time and energy to run and swim as well!! I don't need to do it at all because the bike-train-bike commute is just fine. It is just a good way to get training miles in (and I enjoy it).

 

[dellzeqq]

one of Ken's greatest achievements was to greatly reduce the stress of commuting - particularly for bus users. The bus stops tell you the wait for each bus - so that old conundrum 'do I take the 109 or wait for the 417 has gone for good, and bus frequencies have greatly increased - run 30 buses an hour on one route and people will flock to the bus stop.

the tube's a different matter. TfL have cut down delays, but the crowding on carriages is ghastly. I don't want to be as close to the person next to me as I would be if I travelled on the Waterloo and City line at rush hour.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Commute by car: 35 - 40 mins and last 2 miles takes longer than the first 11. that is frustrating. expensive. polluting. pointless. has no upside. that is why I don't do it anymore.
Commute by bike: 45 - 55 mins. I've enjoyed it in the past and may well do so again (Spring) but at the moment 'we are on a break' for health reasons.
Commute by train+walk: 60 - 80 mins. nonwithstanding some bellend train users/railway staff who I choose to ignore. Ain't cheap, actually more expensive than using car (if car is taxed insured and maintained) . I can read books, listen to music, have to change trains pita sometimes. crap 20+ minute uphill walk to the office on a main road. -ve's outweigh +ve's
Commute by train+bike: 60 mins tops most days 45 max. same comments as above but with a hillclimb on a singlespeed folding bike at the end. What is not to love?

Car has been given to daughter. Strida bought off eBay. Annual Season ticket applied for.

What happen's when winter kicks in? We had one hell of a winter this year. I got to work every day by train. People who drove didn't. Go figure.

 

[Plax]

I had to chose car as other than cycling I've never commuted to work via an alternative means (unless the time you count when we were snowed in and I walked it). Car isn't too stressful though unless there are road works or you get stuck in a massive tailback. Then I get really wound up and wonder why I was too lazy to cycle in.

 

[Bromptonaut]

I said bus as I find ordinary trains pretty relaxing; perhaps I should have said other meaning the tube.


Been a daily commuter from Northampton dormitory village to 'legal London' since 1990.

Drive to the station is OK and, except during post Hatfield and Euston throat chaos so is the train. It was the bit in London that wound me up. Tube has always been a stinking cess pit and buses that took half an hour to jerk from Holborn to Euston a joke. Walking for 20 mins was the best option.

Then in 1999 I bought a Brompton.............