Commute times

[sgrizzle]

What I was wondering, with new transit options on the horizon, is not how much peoiple are willing to spend on transit in terms of $$, but in terms of time.

How long is your commute to work today?

If you had an available alternate transit option, how much time would you be willing to spend commuting?

My answers are 20 minutes (currently) and I'd be willing to spend 40 minutes commuting on mass transit.

[TUalum0982]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

What I was wondering, with new transit options on the horizon, is not how much peoiple are willing to spend on transit in terms of $$, but in terms of time.

How long is your commute to work today?

If you had an available alternate transit option, how much time would you be willing to spend commuting?

My answers are 20 minutes (currently) and I'd be willing to spend 40 minutes commuting on mass transit.

I live 20.2 miles from work, and it takes me about 18-22 minutes.  It is all highway literally from 111th and hwy 75 to the airport.  I go to work so early in the morning,that there is very rarely any traffic on the road.

In terms of how long I would be willing to to commute on mass transit? probably not much longer then my current commute time.  I already wake up at 445 every morning, I don't think I could wake up much earlier.

[cannon_fodder]

About 5 minutes currently, including a stop to drop my boy off at school.  I'd be willing to walk.  Mass transit probably would not help me at all.

My wife works out near 71st and Memorial (I live in midtown) but often does not get off until after 10pm.  The buses would not help her as it currently stands and I doubt the extra time would be worth it to her since going all the way down memorial would take forever.

On my previous job, I had a 15 drive.  Mass transit would go no where near the location of the job which was nearish the airport in an industrial area.  I think the closet bus stop was 2 miles away.

Before that I worked downtown, which is 5 minutes from my house.  Mass transit would have worked great but-for taking my boy to school.  We are too close for the buses but too far to walk (just over a mile).

I realize most of my problems are that I'm too lazy to make it work.  But there ya' go.

[TURobY]

It takes me 5 mins by car, or 15 mins by bike. As far as time commitment goes, it would not make much sense for me to take mass-transit for work.

However, for entertainment or casual shopping, mass transit is definately an option (though not one I usually take) as I don't have major time constraints and can afford an extra 30 mins to my travel time.

[kylieosu]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

It takes me 5 mins by car, or 15 mins by bike. As far as time commitment goes, it would not make much sense for me to take mass-transit for work.

However, for entertainment or casual shopping, mass transit is definately an option (though not one I usually take) as I don't have major time constraints and can afford an extra 30 mins to my travel time.

I agree. I live downtown and drive to 31st & Yale everyday. Only takes me about 10 minutes, so I don't think it would be very convenient for me in that aspect. I would definitely be all about more mass transit options for entertainment purposes though.

[Gold]

Less than five to work, though up to 15 if there are bicyclists and I don't finish them off with the first swerve.

[tulsa1603]

About 5 minutes.  My problem with mass transit is that during the day, i often have to travel to jobsites that are 5, 10, even 30 minutes away.  As someone who bills hours, I couldn't exactly spend an hour navigating mass transit and walking - you couldn't bill it.  If I had a more stationary job, I'd definitely use it.

[godboko71]

I work at home most of the time so commute times aren't in my picture.

That said I Would use it for entertainment if buses and trains ran later in the evening.

For shopping and some other errands buses would be am option if there where more buses running and not as long as wait between runs.

[cannon_fodder]

That's another good point...  I run to the courthouse very often.  I need a car to do that.

[Gaspar]

About 4-5 minutes.

I used to ride the bus and train in St. Louis, but that was because parking was a hassle, and it was expensive.  Busses ran every few minutes and a few quarters would get you anywhere.  The bus routes were also very simple linear grids.

Even when I have to go to downtown Tulsa there is always plenty of parking and it's cheap or free.  I can always find a parking spot right across from city hall.  For shows we get to the BOK early and park on the street just feet from the steps.

Time is not the enemy, convenience is.  As long as owning and driving a car is convent we will have a difficult time promoting mass transit.  

There is a financial element but it is very weak.  Those who see an important financial advantage to taking mass transit make up such a small percentage of our population that promoting the money savings is ineffective in increasing rider-ship.

If we want mass transit to be more successful we need to make commuter's lives more difficult by limiting parking and reducing security.  $2 parking meters, the elimination of surface lots, and decreased lighting should do it.

[T Badd]

My commute is about 52 miles each way. Chews up exactly 2 hours of each work day. Don't guess it would help me much to have mass transit, unless they're running a line along Hwy 75 to Bartlesville.

[Ed W]

I think the census reported that the average commute in Tulsa was about 5 miles, so half the population lives within 5 miles of their workplace.  On surface streets, commuting speeds are in the 20 - 25 mph range when considered portal-to-portal.  The average commute would work out to 12-15 minutes in a car.

I average about 15 mph on a bicycle, so that average commute would take 20 minutes.  Whose time is so valuable that they need to 'save' those extra minutes?  Not mine.  The slightly longer commute time is relaxing and I feel better when I can ride the bike rather than drive.

[RecycleMichael]

It takes me longer to shower than it does to drive to work. Of course, I have lots to wash and I always lather, rinse, then repeat.

[Red Arrow]

quote:Originally posted by Ed W
[Whose time is so valuable that they need to 'save' those extra minutes?  Not mine.  The slightly longer commute time is relaxing and I feel better when I can ride the bike rather than drive.

My time is mine to waste, not for someone else to cause me to waste it for their convenience.

The mile on Memorial between 111th & 101st is posted at 50 mph. Being forced to follow side by side traffic at 35 mph costs 30 seconds; not significant when compared the time spent at the traffic lights. I do not, however, find it relaxing in the least. I only have to follow these Links Fahrers to the turnpike. They seem to be in the left lane only to avoid being inconvenienced by drivers in the right lane.  They are usually the first ones to complain in letters to the editor (TW and others) about other drivers only thinking of themselves.

The drive across the Creek Tpk from Memorial to the Peoria/Elm/Jenks exit only costs another 30 seconds for 60 vs. 65 mph. Again, not a significant loss of time. It just shows the lack of respect slow drivers show to others by not staying in the right/outside lane when going less than the speed limit.

Back to the original thread -

My commute is 10 mi and usually 15 to 20 min. I probably would not ride a bus (I just don't like buses.) but light rail at 25 to 30 min might be attractive.  I would not drive 2 or 3 mi to a park and ride (possibly have to pay to park), wait 15 min for a (real) trolley, ride for 10 min, and then walk the last mile to my job.  I expect I am stuck driving my car.

On the other hand, I would support (yes, even with some $$) public transit in my area to help others for who(m?) it would be more convenient. It would get them off the road, thereby lessening traffic for me, reducing maintenance costs for all, and reduce the need for even more lane miles and all the green things public transit does.  The same public transit might make it more convenient for me to get downtown for events I might otherwise not attend. I would probably not use transit for most shopping since the trunk of my car can carry a lot more than my arms can.

[Red Arrow]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Mass transit would have worked great but-for taking my boy to school.  We are too close for the buses but too far to walk (just over a mile).

When I was in grade school, the school bus ride was based on about a mile distance and/or crossing a major highway or intersection.  Tulsa has enough dangerous intersections for adults.  It's even worse for small children. Other areas are just too dangerous to walk. Pedestrian friendly can be more than just store fronts to the sidewalk.