This map shows the average commuting time from home to work in Europe.
(Author: Maps.interlude, Link to image information and dfferent resolutions )
It might be surprising that, in spite of wildly different traffic systems and large differences in the use share of cars, these times are so similar.
An explanation is given in the wikipedia article on Marchetti’s Constant. Basically, the time spent commuting is mostly an anthropological constant, and is largely independent of means of transport and culture.
In other words, if we use faster means of transport, we almost automatically commute larger distances - regardless whether this improves our quality of life or not.
This relationship should probably be central in modern traffic planning, but it is often not considered. (There is an interesting article in German by the traffic scientist Rudolf Pfleiderer, titled “Das Phänomen Verkehr”, which describes in more detail the relationships between traffic, speed, and distance - perhaps somebody knows a good English article?)
I have a commute of 1 hour, and I love it.
It’s a bicycle route on agricultural roads through fields and meadows, along a river.
And it keeps me fit even though I’m too lazy to exercise regularly.
But yeah, commuting by car is a no-go for me.
That’s always been the number one priority when looking for jobs and apartments.
That sounds wonderful. And awful. Weather pending
Clearly you’re not lazy because you are exercising regularly by using the bike.
I deliberately put myself into a situation where I’m forced to.
I don’t own a car, and with public transport I’d have to leave 10 minutes earlier.
So with my morning routine planned to the minute to maximize snoozing time, I only have the choice between taking the bicycle and being late for work.
Sounds like you’re efficient, not lazy.
I do similar - 14 kilometers by bike, a good part along a motorway, a park, and a river. What motivates me is that I count it as daily excercise which I just need to stay healthy. And if the weather is shit, crusty ice or thunderstorms predicted, I happen to use the commuter train (which is a tad slower for the door-to-door connection).
But my “ideal” commute time is around half an hour.
Yeah, 80km a week here isn’t too bad and only takes me 20-25 mins each way. The last 200m is shared with cars though which sucks as they take up all the space and slow everything down. Sometimes wonder if it would be faster to get off and walk for that last bit.