Daily Prompt: 2024-05-18
What is your commute to work like? Do you like it? Would you consider taking public transit or biking if the infrastructure were there for it?
Replies(5)
@sudorandom Right now, I have a 20-30 minute commute that's limited to the "east side" of the Seattle metro area.
Unfortunately, transit hub placement means taking the bus would at least double that commute time. I really wish that weren't true; I got used to our transit system when I worked in downtown Seattle, and still do everything I can to support it.
Given the elevation and my general out-of-shape-ness, I would need an e-bike to make this a bike commute. Unfortunately, even the shortest path would still double my commute time.
@sudorandom ...and I guess I should some caveats:
1. My job has a necessary physical component, so I'm regularly hopping between our sites. Quick travel to handle emergencies would not be feasible if I were strictly reliant on bike/transit. (Again, I wish this weren't true.)
2. I'm in-person three days a week on average, so most of the time this all goes out the window.
3. Electric Car + Free Work Charging. I save a *lot* on my travel energy bill by smartly planning my charging during the week.
@CiscoJunkie yeah... I feel like there are similar stories in most American cities. There's only a few that get this kind of thing even remotely right. It is a large part of the reason that I moved from Dallas, Texas to Copenhagen. I couldn't wait 20 years for things to get marginally better and I only get one chance at raising my daughter... We just got her a bigger bike and she's now fast enough to ride in bike lanes alongside me, we just need to work on some awareness and rules... She's 5 years old.
@sudorandom I envy the fact that your bike commute is the fastest option. I'd bike in a heartbeat if it made time/fiscal sense. Seattle is no Dallas, so it's...better, but still not where I'd want it.
@CiscoJunkie this is what the typical day looks like for my commute options. I'm a bit slower than this estimate but even so, I feel like all of these numbers are amazing. I've made this walk several times just because I wanted to and it's very pleasant.
Car: 14 min
Transit (a single metro line): 18 min
Walking: 42 min
Cycling: 11 min