Commuters off to an early start

[Joe Iliff]

We've talked about how long our commutes to work are, but this a bit different. Researchers are finding that people are commuting earlier, getting out the door before 6:00 AM to have an easier time getting to work.

This article describes the "commuting creep" and its impacts such as rush hour traffic conditions starting earlier in the morning, and businesses catering more to these early morning commuters.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-routine_N.htm

"What we're seeing now is this tremendous amount of traffic even before 5 a.m. It seems there's a big lifestyle change here," says Alan Pisarski, author of a wide-ranging study on commuting in the USA.

As housing prices soared in many areas in recent years, people sought cheaper homes and found them where land is cheaper: farther out. Sprawl and more cars on the road worsened congestion and lengthened commutes even for those who hadn't moved to far-flung locales.

The wave of pre-dawn commuters has created marketing challenges and opportunities.

Fast-food chains and coffee chains are battling to cater to bleary-eyed drivers by opening earlier. TV morning news shows have pushed up their starting times and now air at dawn or earlier. Newspaper publishers struggle to get their editions on doorsteps before people leave.

So, how early are we out the door and on our way to work? Have you chosen to commute earlier to make getting to work easier? Or because those early hours can be productive ones?

[JNA]

Not early and no rush here -
I leave between 7:35-7:45 for a 10-15 minute commute.

I eat breakfast at home and have my coffee and read the paper at work.

[Maister]

If I'm suffering from a particularly bad bout of insomnia I might go in as early as 5:00 am but normally I'm out the door at 7:45 am.

[Gedunker]

During the school year, we are out the door at precisely 7:52. Drop the kids at school at 7:56, and I'm in the office no later than 8:05.

I commuted 45 mins for work right after college, but that's because I was getting some nooky

[zman]

If I am out by 7:15 I make it in at about 7:50. If I leave at 7:20, I'll be here at 8:10.

Of course other variables include stops at the gas station, maybe getting a breakfast burrito and whether or not various farm equipment like to use the road which I take.

[ofos]

On the days I don't work from home, I leave the house at 7:45-8:00 and am at the office around 8:30-8:45. When I work from home, I tend to start working anywhere between 7 & 8.

[HarryFossettsHat]

out a 8am. in work for 8.30.

[michaelskis]

4:30 Get up to take dog for a run or to work out
5:30 Back at condo, eat breakfast
6:00 Shower and get ready for work
6:45 Out the door with cup of coffee in hand
8:00 At desk with computer on ready to work.

[otterpop]

We generally are out the door around 7:40. I drop my wife and son off at her job (she works in a daycare), then I go to work. Takes me about 15 minutes to get to work total, fighting the horrendous Helena traffic.

I have to keep myself from laughing when in public meetings people complain about the traffic in the valley. They have no idea what bad traffic is like.

Worked with a lawyer at the state and he always left work ten minutes early to escape the "traffic" around the Capitol.

[Dan]

4:30 Get up to take dog for a run or to work out

You are either lying or insane.

6:30 Wake up, hit snooze button
6:39 Really wake up this time
6:42 Take shower, let dogs out
6:50 Step out of shower, let dogs in, feed them
6:55 Shave, get dressed, etc
7:15 Check to make sure Cyburbia is still running, hasn't been spammed to death, etc.
7:20 Bribe dogs into kitchen/dining room, gate them in
7:25 Out the door
8:00-8:10 Hopefully at work

My commute is long, about 27 miles/44 kilometers, but it's contraflow. I really only have to worry if there's an accident or a particularly long train at one of the grade crossings I encounter. NPR and Howard Stern provide company on the way to work.

[Hink]

I fit this mold pretty well.

Up at 4:50
5am- Dog for a walk
5:15am- Leave for work
6:30am- Get to work

Leave at 4pm to get home around 5:30. I work odd hours but have the flexibility to not go to work on Fridays... which is nice. No one should have to work on Fridays. Seriously.

[Tranplanner]

Up at 6:00 a.m., out the door by 7:00a.m., at work between 7:20 and 7:40 depending on whether I drive or take the bus.

I'd love to wake up a little earlier and do something like M'skis but that just ain't happening. My gym doesn't even open until 6:30 a.m. in any event.

[Richmond Jake]

I arrive at the office between 6 and 6:30 after a 7-mile drive. I like being here early to enjoy uninterrupted work.
I leave for home when damn good and ready...especially this time of year when the pool is warm.

[jsk1983]

For those of you who get up at 4:30 or thereabouts do you actually go to bed really early or do you just get by with not much sleep.
-Jared

[kjel]

I go to work later....

Get up at 7am usually.
Out the door by 8:15-8:30
Get to work around 9:10-9:20
Work later to avoid the traffic in the evening.

My drive is somewhat of a reverse commute. Route 18 South through New Brunswick where it crosses US 1 and the NJ Turnpike so it's always backed up. From there it's another 5 miles of traffic signals and medium traffic. After that it's open road all the way to Route 36 which leads to the shore and is full of lights and beach traffic.

[Planit]

Up until about a month ago:
Up at 5:10 am
Out the door by 5:45 am
Get to work about 6:50 am
Leave work by 4:10 pm (and no later if possible)
Get home at 5:20 pm

The first half of the commute was very easy, the second half was interstate packed with traffic. If I left between 6:00 and 7:00 am or on the way after 5:00 pm, the hour commute turned into an hour twenty or more. So when I read this article this morning I directly relate to what was being said, becasue I was living it.

Now, with my new job:
Up at 6:50 am
Out the door at 7:20 am
In the office at 7:45
If I leave at 7:25, I play dodge bus during the first part of the drive (getting behind those big yellow steel boxes on wheels full of kids).
I leave at 5:00 pm
Home about 5:20 pm

I still get home at the same time, but the mornings are much more enjoyable and I actually get to talk to Mrs. P and give Wee P a hug and a kiss before I leave!!!

[TOFB]

Up at 7
Walk dog, maybe swim, lift weights, putz in yard
Get on bike at 8:30
Arrive at work 8:40

Leave work 5:30 - 6:00
Get home 15 min later (its uphill)

Wife has 5 min walk to work.

We are blessed.

[michaelskis]

I'd love to wake up a little earlier and do something like M'skis but that just ain't happening. My gym doesn't even open until 6:30 a.m. in any event.

We have a private workout facility in the basement of our condo building. *Open to residents 24/7/365… closed on leap day.

[Captain Worley]

Up at 5:50, feed the cats, read the paper
Leave for work 6:50 stop at Bojangles for a biscuit
Arrive at work 7:25
Leave work 4:15
Hit the grocery store, get home 4:40-5:00

Used to be much worse. For two years I did a 100 mile round trip commute that took an hour each way.

[mendelman]

I usually leave home at 6:50-7am to get to work at 8a

But I am up at 5a to work and play with the dog and do everything else (shower, eat, watch a little tv, play with boy, etc.)

This is the most commute that I will ever do. 30 miles/1 hour each way is alot and I have contemplated moving to/near the muni. I work for, but I am having trouble making the decision. I really love my urban streetcar suburb.

[dandy_warhol]

up sometime between 7:20 and 7:40
leave for work between 8:06 and 8:15.
arrive at work between 8:10 and 8:20.

[Chet]

If I drive, its 25 minutes door to door and I can leave at 7:30.

If I decide to take the bus, its an hour and I need to leave at 6:30.

[Plan-it]

Wake up at 4:30
Get to the gym by 5:15
Work out until 6:30
Get to work by 7:30

I live 15 minutes from work (by car) and it is a reverse commute.

[PlannerGirl]

Wake at 6:15
let hounds of hell out 6:30
Bribe em back in 6:35-6:40
Read email and wake up 6:40-7
Shower and such *stare at sleeping other half with much envy as he dreams* 7am
Walk out the door 7:30
Get to work 8am *30 min before we open*

Head home 4:30 *30 min before we close*
Walk in 4:50-5

I find going in 30 min early a HUGE jump on traffic coming and going. One of my co workers lives about an hour from here and he gets in about 7am to beat the I270 mess

[NHPlanner]

Up at 6. Shower, get the boys up, change diapers, feed kids, get dressed, kiss everyone goodbye.
Leave house around 7:15-7:30
Get to work between 8 and 8:15, Town Hall opens at 8:30.