nytraveler

A Forbes poll named Riverside/San Bernadino CA (pop only about 4 million) as the area with the worst/most unhealthy commute in the country.

Surprisingly the NYC metro area ranked only # 19 - even thought with almost 20 million people it has many times the population. The reason - so many public transit options. The areas that ranked worst force almost all commuters into cars due to limited public transit.

Others high on the list: #2 Atlanta, #3 LA, #4 Houston.

So - how bad is your commute?

(I'm consulting primarily from home now - so I can say from the bedroom to my office - previously third bedroom used by step-daugther #2).

wliwl

In my area, many people move out of what they perceive as the "dangerous" city to far flung suburbs, not realizing that their commute is in fact more dangerous.

Dukey

I wonder if any of those who have died in accidents in other places participated in that "poll?"

wliwl

Haha Dukey good one. That is not based on a poll though, it is simple transportation/crime statisitcs.

suze

My commute's a snap. 5 miles round-trip on surface streets in Seattle.

J_Correa

My commute is easy too - I live about 2.5 miles from my house. When the weather is nice, I ride my bike.

My husband's commute is about 15 miles, and if he drove, it would really suck. But he takes public transportation, so it is pretty easy.

GeorgeW

I have a commute of 1 hour 20 minutes and I despise it. Very unhealthy, especially mentally.

FainaAgain

San Francisco here.

Going to work: 1.5 blocks to the bus stop, 3 blocks from the bus to work.

Going home, a different bus right at the door. From bus to home 4.5 blocks. Usually more as I get off at different stops for different reasons: pharmacy, groceries, wine shop, health foods, banking.

Waiting for a bus is usually from zero to 15 minutes. If I'm at work early, more Internet time, woo-hoo

dfnh

I have a 35 minute commute, half of which is on the interstate usually just after rush hour although the only time traffic is bad is Friday evenings when weekenders and vacationers are also heading north. That's what I get for living in a popular vacation area. After I leave the interstate, I can stop at a local farmer's to buy fresh corn or, a bit further down the road stop for apples or across the street choose some bedding plants. I'll pass by a farm where the afternoon light always makes the grass look a gorgeous shade of emerald. And then in a little bit I can see the mountain in the next town.

Rich

My commute is terrible . . . I have to walk to work . . . all the way from the bedroom to the office.

Poor me!!!

jodeenyc

Mine is easy too. Hoboken to NYC:

10-15 min walk to the PATH train

15 min on the PATH

5 min walk to work

What does unnerve me, is when the PATH steps up their security.

I know the people in uniform carrying huge machine looking like guns are there to protect if something happens (and I'm glad they are) but their presence always makes me more nervous on my way to work.

kaykay83

My commute is 40 minutes and is very unhealthy for me! Especially since by the time I get home in the evenings, I am starving and willing to eat any not good for me morsel I can find! LOL!

JJ5

Mine is 23 miles, and varies from 30 to 40 minutes, except now in snow and horrendous ice weather as we have had for 5 or 6 weeks already. Last week one night it was 1 hour and 35 minutes.

It's in open countryside for at least 1/2. And honestly sometimes it is just so beautiful that I want to take pictures, but it is not a bad communte compared to lots of other people in my area.

There are no commuter trains that go where I go, not even in that direction.

It is unhealthy in that my entire workday is too long- more than 11 hours. I had a longer commute, more dangerous for traffic conditions absolutely, but a much shorter day and had time for a health club. I miss it tremendously- that aspect.

You could never do anything I do from home.

Illusory

Listening to the radio can make any commute either more or less conducive to good health.

Both the programming as well as the commercials on radio can disgust, anger, agitate or calm, sooth, inspire, etc.

Illusory

Neglected to greatest potential hazard listening to _anything_ while driving has: distracting one from the road

kauai_aka

30mi-1wy. not so much bad or unhealthy unless you account for onlookers and map readers in front of you. mostly hazardous.

other than that, its super boring. beach on my left going to work and then on my right coming home. sigh. such is life.

Amy

Step out of door, go through parking lot, enter work.

That's a long enough commute for me!

basingstoke2

I commute 26 miles each way in Maryland, about 15 of which are on back roads. Those are usually relaxing and pleasant, the only stress is watching out for deer. The 50 minutes or so it takes is my time to listen to CDs, catch up on news and occasionaly listen to a book. Before a trip I play language CDs. Not bad at all.

GeorgeW

Audiobooks are the only thing that keep me sane with regards to severe commuting.

lizziea06

Mine is 30 minutes, and involves a 3/4 mile walk to the subway, and then a 3/4 mile walk from the subway to my office. I have to use my shoulder to shove myself onto the subway, at which point I'm usually wedged into someone's armpit. The subway car is invariably 90 degrees, but it's like I can move my arms in order to take off my jacket. It's even more fun when it rains and the subway reeks of a wet dog and there are people umbrellas staining your jacket. I'm also probably gripping a bacteria infested subway pole in order to maintain my balance when the conductor slams on the brakes at 40 miles an hour. And don't even get me started on the people...