how far is too far to commute?

Sic · 15 Sep 2007 at 23:46

I do 52 miles round. takes about 45 minutes each way, but I car-pool so it's entertaining and cheaper. Ideally, I'd work from home, but I'd never do more than 30 e/w. I love driving, but the rat-race is depressing and you'll quickly grow tired of it.

Rich1988 · 15 Sep 2007 at 23:51

mmmmm getting mixed feelings about it mmm ill just wait and see i spose

Sic · 15 Sep 2007 at 23:52

if you've got the time, try the drive when you'd normally do it just to see what it's like - it's the only way you'll know really

Rich1988 · 15 Sep 2007 at 23:53

Sic said:
if you've got the time, try the drive when you'd normally do it just to see what it's like - it's the only way you'll know really

Yea I suppose thats the sensible thing to do

ste_bla · 15 Sep 2007 at 23:55

I found (when doing 25 miles each way) that after a few weeks you seem to forget the route and just go automatically some days i couldnt even remember driving to colege!

Sic · 15 Sep 2007 at 23:56

ste_bla said:
I found (when doing 25 miles each way) that after a few weeks you seem to forget the route and just go automatically some days i couldnt even remember driving to colege!

I hate that - when I drove alone, I'd get halfway home and wonder how the hell it even happened! quite scary. I felt like I was in the 6th sense or something

Vai · 16 Sep 2007 at 00:00

If I was looking at ~1 hour I would be definitely be looking at renting somewhere close to work.
Personally I think ~30 minutes is the average I would want to travel.

Right now I leave at 8:40 and get to work around 9:10. I certainly wouldn't want a longer commute.

FrannoBaz · 16 Sep 2007 at 00:01

depends what you're commuting IN

HangTime · 16 Sep 2007 at 00:15

Time and money are more important than distance.

Currently I commute by bus and train, where I work is only ~15 miles away but it takes 1h15mins each way, as both my home and workplace aren't all that close to the station. So on a good day I spend 2h30 travelling at a cost of £6.70. The good news is my partner usually drives me on her days off which takes around 40mins each way.

If it's something you really wanna do then I don't think an hour drive is anything to worry about.

Rich1988 · 16 Sep 2007 at 00:26

FrannoBaz said:
depends what you're commuting IN

2 litre turbo

Flying Gribble · 16 Sep 2007 at 00:28

It varies. I used to commute 40 mins each way and found it bearable, mostly. But then I moved to 400 yds from my office and can't contemplate going back to the traffic.

CircleFaust · 16 Sep 2007 at 00:46

i used to commute 20miles by bus each way. it could take up to 1h20mins one way due to traffic! it was bloody horrible and i'm sooo glad not to be doing it anymore

big_white_dog84 · 16 Sep 2007 at 10:08

Have you looked at the electricity distribution network operators for jobs? Between them they spend about £50 million every year clearing their networks of trees. A change to the ESQCR Regulations means that this is only going to go up. Most of them probably use contractors, but it might be worth a look to see if any of them do it in-house.
I'm not sure who your DNO is - I think you are probably near the border between Western Power Distribution and Scottish and Southern's patches.

Rich1988 · 16 Sep 2007 at 11:08

big_white_dog84 said:
Have you looked at the electricity distribution network operators for jobs? Between them they spend about £50 million every year clearing their networks of trees. A change to the ESQCR Regulations means that this is only going to go up. Most of them probably use contractors, but it might be worth a look to see if any of them do it in-house.
I'm not sure who your DNO is - I think you are probably near the border between Western Power Distribution and Scottish and Southern's patches.

I would have thought contracting would require you to have previous xp/certificates? should I just google that name?

Defcon5 · 17 Sep 2007 at 09:38

Try driving 60 miles a day (including the leeds ring road) with a whopping 75bhp at you disposal!

Cant argue with 45 mpg though

leaskovski · 17 Sep 2007 at 10:02

AcidHell2 said:
depending on the route get a motorbike, could slash fuel bills and time.

Is that right? I would have thought that a motorbike would have terrible mpg.?

Gilly · 17 Sep 2007 at 10:02

Rich1988 said:
I would have thought contracting would require you to have previous xp/certificates? should I just google that name?

He said to check if any do it in-house. IE, not contracted.

Dave M · 17 Sep 2007 at 10:10

I'd go upto 2 hours on a train, no more than 30 minutes by car - providing you can get a proper seat on the train.

As somebody said it's all about time and money, is there a difference between a 14 hour day next door and a 10 hour day with 2 hours on the train each way?

The variables are time out of the house, money, and job satisfaction and how those relate to each other is up to each individual.

Bar · 17 Sep 2007 at 10:13

Currently contracting and doing 4 hours driving a day - but then the overall package and work flexibility make it worth it.

It all comes down to situation really - I have two small boys and a third on the way - so I don't like working away. I also get to bill at 45p a mile so its not that bad as I do 3500 miles a month.

Scrutinize · 17 Sep 2007 at 13:08

Rich1988 said:
To cut a long story short I want to become a tree surgeon, after emailing and phoning round different companies none seem to have any vacancies or none seem to have any which I could take having no experience, I have however been possibly offered a part time position but it would mean a 40 mile commute there and 40 miles back, this seems like too far really but I would like to get some experience to see whether I want to take it up as a career so should I take this part time job not earn much money at all but get some experience or just wait till something around here comes up?
Cheers

I do 60 miles each way each day so 600 miles per week. Average journey is 1hr 30min despite most of it being motorway. At the moment I drive but will start getting the train soon. (costs me £15 per day in fuel + car running costs) season ticket for train works out the same)

Once you get used to, it is nothing and just becomes part of your work day. I have done 30+ miles to work each way for the last 4 years and there really is nothing too it.