How far would you walk to work?

telstarbox · 2 Mar 2019

I used to live 10 mins walk from work in Manchester city centre, which was great as walking is free and the most reliable mode of transport in terms of journey times. The only downside was the Mancunian weather sometimes

I'd probably do up to 20 mins each way before considering cycling or public transport instead. But I'm aware that some people used to walk a lot further to jobs before mass car ownership. What would be your limit now?

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gazthomas · 2 Mar 2019

20-30 mins myself

tgrb · 2 Mar 2019

I used to walk an hour in the mornings and half hour in the evenings as an apprentice.

I’d happily do half an hour each way now but it’s not an option so I walk the dogs for an hour instead

JLH · 2 Mar 2019

For two years I walked 40 mins each way to work which seemed fine but is probably the maximum time I would consider. This journey had no viable public transport option and I didn't have a car at the time. On the plus side I was fitter. Even walking in the rain was OK as I have good waterproofs including trousers. I did get some funny looks though when I arrived at the office.

bramling · 2 Mar 2019

telstarbox said:
I used to live 10 mins walk from work in Manchester city centre, which was great as walking is free and the most reliable mode of transport in terms of journey times. The only downside was the Mancunian weather sometimes

I'd probably do up to 20 mins each way before considering cycling or public transport instead. But I'm aware that some people used to walk a lot further to jobs before mass car ownership. What would be your limit now?

Depends. For me the deciding factor wouldn't so much be distance, but how pleasant the walk might be. Factors would include how crowded the walking route might be (i.e. would it be a pleasant walk or would it be dodging other people all the time?), proximity to busy polluted roads and how often one has to cross roads, whether it means getting covered in mud, et cetera.

I would probably reject even a short walk if it means breathing in pollution and having to dodge traffic every few seconds, whereas I'd possibly contemplate up to an hour if it was along a secluded peaceful path.

route101 · 2 Mar 2019

I walk 30 minutes to and from work , dosent even feel like it . Turning up like a drowned rat at work is not always ideal . I see it as good excerise.

Killingworth · 2 Mar 2019

For secondary school I could take a bus and walk part, taking 40-45 minutes - a circuitous route, or two buses. Walking took 20 minutes. Cycling took 10 minutes, a longer way round. School kitchens were limited and we had 3 sittings over 90 minutes but those living nearby were encouraged to go home. I usually went home so on that hilly cycle route did at least 7 or 8 miles every day. Never got the bus home and have never been fitter.

Mind you, I did jog the 9 miles to work one day a week until I retired.

A Challenge · 2 Mar 2019

One of my friends walks just over an hour, which considering I get the bus almost past his house 3 days a week is a bit strange, and I know other people who do about 45 minutes (again on a bus route, this time direct).

Killingworth · 2 Mar 2019

Interesting to note that when they made buses free for local residents in Estonia car commuting declined slightly, but the big increase in bus ridership came from reduced numbers of walkers. Not the healthy result some would have wished.

bspahh · 2 Mar 2019

I normally walk 30 minutes from my house to the station, spend 15 minutes on a train and then walk 20 minutes at the other end to my office.

Driving would be ~ 30-45 minutes from home to my office, but then I need to do some exercise.I could cycle to and from the station, but I would also need to do more exercise, as cycling is a bit too efficient.

I did spend a year where ~ 3 days a week I would walk 30 minutes to the station and then 65 minutes at the other end. Together with dieting, I lost 1/3rd of my weight.

Esker-pades · 2 Mar 2019

I have a 30 minute walk to/from university most days. I would do more, but probably not more than 45 minutes.

But, time isn't going to be my only consideration. I had a much more direct walk last year, but much worse because it went straight through the middle of Edinburgh. My walk this year is quieter and much more pleasent. I get to go through parks rather than spending my time on a main road.

StoneRoad · 2 Mar 2019

When I worked in the middle of Newcastle and used the Tyne Valley line to commute I had the choice of a twenty-five minute walk or catch the Metro and a ten minute walk. In bad weather, the car was also an option. The job was fairly sedentary ....

Now, I live just over a mile and a half from work.
It takes about half an hour to walk there, but as the vertical difference is around 600 feet the return journey is more likely 45 minutes. I don't cycle at present - I had a fall a few years ago and it put me off more than a bit, although I didn't break anything. Most days I'll be very active in the workshop, so to save time in the winter I've been using a car share. My other justification is that I'm not in then first flush of my youth !

A Challenge · 2 Mar 2019

FelixtheCat said:
I have a 30 minute walk to/from university most days. I would do more, but probably not more than 45 minutes.

But, time isn't going to be my only consideration. I had a much more direct walk last year, but much worse because it went straight through the middle of Edinburgh. My walk this year is quieter and much more pleasent. I get to go through parks rather than spending my time on a main road.

Some universities (not Edinburgh, I'm guessing, though that may be possible) have halls of residence that you can walk for less than 10 minutes to be in your lecture, that seems like it might get people to walk, I don't think there's much point not walking that (like the OP's example).

Peter Mugridge · 2 Mar 2019

I'm about 5 - 10 minutes walk from work, but i would consider 30 minutes to be reasonable.

AM9 · 2 Mar 2019

In the early '70s I walked for 3.6km to catch the 06:42 train from Colchester. It took about 37 minutes so if I was a few minutes late, it was a run/walk to get there in time. Thyen there was 1hr 20 minutes journey on three train to Ilford/Seven Kings. Then there was another 1.0 to 1.5km walk at the other end. It was tedious when the weather was poor but it kept me fit. I didn't drive then and there were no buses until after 07:00.
I did that for just over 30 months.

richw · 2 Mar 2019

In a previous job, I lived 10-15 minutes walk from work. I’d walk when on sociable shifts, but drive if I was on a 5am start, or a late night finish. There was no way I’d walk in the dark as it was down an unlit country lane.

t_star2001uk · 2 Mar 2019

I have a nice 2 mile stroll to the station and 2 miles back. I use the car in adverse weather though...

507021 · 2 Mar 2019

I usually walk to work in the summer, it takes 25-30 minutes each way.

muz379 · 2 Mar 2019

Previous job I used to walk 25-30 mins to work and 25-30 mins back . Headphones in music on and was at work in no time . Occasionally got the bus as a "treat" , occasionally missed the bus and just ended up walking down the road the bus went down looking back at every stop for another one without success . With the weather in England though a good waterproof coat is a must if walking to work .

Now I would be an hour from work on foot which seems a bit much , especially considering it could be quite late at night/early in the morning

bramling said:
Depends. For me the deciding factor wouldn't so much be distance, but how pleasant the walk might be. Factors would include how crowded the walking route might be (i.e. would it be a pleasant walk or would it be dodging other people all the time?), proximity to busy polluted roads and how often one has to cross roads, whether it means getting covered in mud, et cetera.

More of a consideration for me would be any dodgy areas I might have to walk through . For instance that is one of the things that puts me off walking to work now .

JohnMcL7 · 3 Mar 2019

Probably up to a couple of miles and after that I'd cycle, while I do generally like taking the bike I find it's a bit of a hassle on short trips and I like being able to listen to a bit of music on the walk to work.

Rail Blues · 3 Mar 2019

Forty five minutes is the cut off for me, mind you i hate driving and would gocto considerable lengths to avoid a regular trip in the car.

Ianno87 · 3 Mar 2019

I've walked to work up to 45 minutes or so (still do today on occasion), and beyond that feels too far.

satisnek · 3 Mar 2019

Back in the 1990s I used to walk 50 minutes to work, because it was the only way I could absolutely 100% guarantee getting there on time (my then employer had introduced a swipe-card clocking-in system and deducted 15 minutes pay if just 1 minute late - since we were salaried and there was no alteration to our contracts this was actually illegal). Coming home I either got a lift or walked back again. After six months of doing this it was commented that I had lost weight!

By sheer coincidence, I now work just a stone's throw from where I worked back then and usually cycle (not as reliable as walking because there's always the risk of getting a puncture). Last time I walked to work was around a year ago in the snow - cycling was way too dangerous (even when walking I fell over because I couldn't see where the kerbs were!) and there were no Wacky Races that morning (even though the online bus tracker showed services operating in Redditch...). And all for just a couple of hours because my employer decided to finish early!

Groningen · 3 Mar 2019

Walking 1 kilometer is 12 minutes; cycling 1 kilometer is 3 minutes. Which would you rather choose?

gnolife · 3 Mar 2019

Groningen said:
Walking 1 kilometer is 12 minutes; cycling 1 kilometer is 3 minutes. Which would you rather choose?

Walk any day of the week - coming back from lectures for me is 35 minutes up a fairly steep incline, I don't particularly fancy doing that by bike.

PeterY · 3 Mar 2019

I think 45 minutes max walking and 45 minutes cycling. I do walk at a brisk pace but slowed down a bit now I'm getting older

Groningen · 3 Mar 2019

Every railwaystation in the Netherlands has bikestorage and at most main stations you can get a bike for 3,85 euro for 24 hours.

deltic · 3 Mar 2019

I walk to work - its 40mins each way and have done for about 6 years. I live on a direct bus and tube route between home and work. Occassionaly when I have to be in early I will get the tube and instantly regret it -often takes 3-4 trains before I can get on. Coming home I can keep pace with the bus for almost half the way before the traffic eases and it outpaces me! I walk for exercise and it gives me a chance to unwind on the way home.

A study done a few years ago looked at commutting behaviour in Edinburgh after residents parking restrictions and on-street charges were put in place in the city centre. It found commuters were prepared to walk around 25 minutes from somewhere they could park on street to where they worked.

route101 · 3 Mar 2019

Yeah i see it as good exercise , only way for me to guarentee to be on time as waited for the half hourly bus service is not to be relied on . One downside is when i start work sometimes i start to sweat .

Bletchleyite · 3 Mar 2019

gazthomas said:
20-30 mins myself

I think 20-40 minutes is the "sweet spot" for a commute by any mode, door to door. It is far enough away to give you a pronounced work-life split but not too far away to get enough sleep.

That said, if cycling was viable I'd probably get the bike out at about 30 minutes to get it down to 20.

How far would you walk to work?

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