02 July 2011

Saturday Open Thread

I'm drowning my sorrows after the rugby. Today's topic: How far are you prepared to commute every day?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

On a scooter, 15 km's there 15 km's back.
Push that up to 25 km's each way on a 900cc plus machine.
Come rain or shine.

One just has to invest in excellent waterproof overhauls,
I can wake up at 07h00 and be at work at 08h15.
My car and bus days are over.

Unis said...

This is actually an interesting topic, as recently I decided, consciously, that I need to stay FURTHER from work than the current 10km. At least 25km away.

When I was younger and had a less responsible job, I wanted to be close to work, to have more time to go out, play and socialise. Now that I'm older, and have a more responsible job, I actually find that I need more "me" time. And the best place to get that is the "get ready" and "slow down" time in traffic, to and from work. It's just me and Fine Music Radio, time to think about those things that I value important, and never have time for.

Another reason I prefer being further from work, is that I don't feel as connected to it as before. Going home in the afternoon, now that I bought in the "countryside" of Durbanville, is a little bit like going on a holiday. It's removed from the world, not being on the city side of Tygerberg. And that suits me perfectly.

So, to answer the question, I prefer being further from work than closer.

Anonymous said...

It's not really the distance but the time it takes. Longer than 25 minutes in the car either way and I am in a bad mood. I also love not having to ride the freeway anymore as that just adds to the stress.

Anonymous said...

Better not to be on the roads too long as they are so unsafe. Look a the number of people killed each day in car accidents that are caused by wreckless drunk drivers (i wont mention some judge's name for example!). If you can walk to your office it is ideal. It saves also a lot in petrol, time and you have more time for your "me" time

Anonymous said...

Another article that lends support to the fact that the property market is stagnant:

Property agents reeling from downturn
http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Property/Property-agents-reeling-from-downturn-20110703


L.S.

Anonymous said...

A good reason to live further from work is that it stops your employer from asking you to 'just pop in' and fix/do this/that or the other quickly. Usually at really inopportune times. But if you 'only stay 5 mins away' it will quickly become a habit for your colleagues to ask you to stay behind while they leave 'early to miss the traffic'. Also, don't brag how quickly/easily you got to work if you use a motorbike for example. I speak from experiance here.

So I think stay a reasonable distance from work but try to cut down on the time spent in traffic. Of course, this is not always easy to arrange.

Steve said...

well it all depends!

I'm doing a real commute for the first time ever now. It's about 20km, and I swap between the train(50mins @R15 return) and the car(35min, but price 20km of driving).

The car travel time is 'wasted' for me. So I prefer the train, it is inconvenient for sure, but you get to read a book and/or relax.

I'd like to see a middle class adoption of public transport in ct, will be interesting to follow the BRT affect on parklands.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of BRT, I saw quite a few well dressed, white folks exiting the bus at table view stop the other day. Could it be that this will actually work?

Now I am waiting for an occasion to go to town so that I can give it a try myself. Now if only they put the schedules for every stop somewhere on the web.

Anonymous said...

I know a oke who flogs leg cream to salons and makes well over R100k per month

Oh, and he doesn't use the BRT - too smelly

Anonymous said...

I think the BRT system will work.

I recall my parents using the bus and I used it myself as long as I needed to go into the CBD. Once I no longer worked in the CBD then I stopped using it.

The big cost saving about the bus is not having to pay for parking.

It does take more time but you can read or nap. During rush hour it may be quicker to use the bus than a car due to the dedicated bus lanes.

Of course if you need a car to visit clients then it's not for you.

L.S.

Anonymous said...

I think the BRT bus will absolutely murder any by-car time during the rush hour from table view. That thing goes on its own empty lane so I won't be surprised if it takes half the time of a car. The only potential delays are at the stops, about which I am not sure.

Any one with experience knows how long does the BRT bus waste at each stop?

Anonymous said...

House prices flat in nominal terms but down in real terms:

http://www.fin24.com/Money/House-prices-edge-higher-20110704

L.S.