010 Reconsidering the Long Daily Commute

Oyster900

– In this episode Mark brings up the issue of people who have extra long daily commutes because they work 40, 50, even 85 miles from where they live. Mark does the math to show how living near where you work could actually save money in gas, wear and tear on your car, and insurance, even if renting a home closer to your workplace would cost more than where you live now. They talk about other benefits of a shorter commute, such as being able to get back to your family or pets quicker in an emergency. Adele saves time and money by telecommuting, although Mark notes that’s not possible for everyone. He drives only a few miles to his office, about 6,000 miles a year, and wishes he could drive even less. His business is not such that he can work out of his home. Adele talks about the need for separating work and home life, even if you’re a telecommuter. She also notes that it isn’t always feasible to move closer to a job, but they both agree that the goal for everyone should be to drive less, walk more, and ride a bicycle when possible.

More information:
Find local gas prices for your area at http://www.gasbuddy.com/

Find walkable communities at http://www.walkscore.com

According to the American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau) Report, “Out-of-State and Long Commutes” at http://www.census.gov/hhes/commuting/

• Among U.S. workers who did not work at home, 8.1 percent had commutes of 60 minutes or longer in 2011.
• An estimated 61.1 percent of workers with “long commutes” [60 minutes or longer] drove to work alone, compared with 79.9 percent for all workers who did not work at home.
• The national average travel time is 25.5 minutes