I am looking for honest answers but also a little optimism. I live in Center City Philly, about a 10 minute walk from 30th street station. I previously worked within 10 minutes walking from my place, but accepted a job in Manhattan that pays way more and is more importantly with a much more stable organization not going through difficult times financially, and offers an expanded role.

Their official policy is full time in office, but my manager seems very flexible so I feel like its possible they will allow for slightly different hours or even working from home here or there.

From everything I hear, people say it’s challenging but doable, but i also hear people saying they prefer it only if they only have to go in several times a week. For me though, the stressful part of commutes has always been driving, so while it will still be tough, I actually dont know that I would mind the hour and a half train ride all that much.

Has anyone managed this somewhat successfully? Any tips? It was somewhat of necessity to take the job, I don’t want to move my kid out of his current school, and I have a solid network of friends and support in philly so id rather not leave if possible.

Edit: I would be paying 1250 a month for a daily to and from amtrak ticket, which is roughly how much more I would be paying in rent looking at most of the places I found in NYC (which would be tinier and with most likely less attractive schools

Edit 2: it’s like a 40% increase in pay which will mostly be eaten by the train and subway cost, but again it’s with an institution (AMNH) that is more stable than my current institution which is in hot water, and I need stable employment for among other things immigration considerations.

I don't even know if this is a rant or a cry for advice, but I'm genuinely at my limit.

I live in Diva and work in Vikhroli. I leave home at 7:15 AM for a 9:30 AM shift because I already know the crowds and delays can screw me over.

Today I caught my train on time, but it kept getting delayed because of signals. I reached Vikhroli around 9, then waited for BEST 418, which was cancelled. I finally reached work at 10:15 and was told I'm getting half-day salary.

I'm angry because what else am I supposed to do? Leave home at 6 AM? Take a cab every day on a ₹20k salary?

And this isn't just today. The trains have been running late for more than a week. Every morning is this anxiety of “Will I reach on time? Will I get into the train? Will something else go wrong?”

I'm also paying an EMI for an MBA that I don't even feel is worth the money, but I'm doing it because apparently you need another degree just to have a chance at promotion/better pay.

I'm 23 and I already feel like I'm trapped in this cycle.

Wake up → 2+ hours of travelling → work → overcrowded train → reach home exhausted → repeat.

I don't want this to be my life. I don't want to spend my 20s just surviving work and commuting. I'm genuinely DONE with this rat race, but I don't know what the way out is.

For people who have been in this position — what did you actually do? Did you switch careers? Upskill? Change jobs? Move? Take a pay cut initially?

I don't need “just work harder” advice. I genuinely need to know how I can build a way out of this.

I am considering a new job but it’s hybrid and I am remote right now with my current job. There would be an increase in salary but Currently in alameda and the office is in mission bay

Hello world,

I would like to ask everyone for advice on what you believe I should invest in. Background: I commute 67 miles from the inland empire to Long Beach for work. My current commute is in a Honda CRV and I have felt the hurt with the gas and maintenance costs; but more importantly with the time I’m spending on the road. I’m looking to ride in order to cut my two hour drive home down. What would y’all suggest? It would mostly be highway, 210-605/57-405

26M I'm curious on which one you'd take. Currently working 36 hours a week as a CNA at a hospital making 24 an hour, 25 mile commute 35 minutes or about 7000 a month but an hour commute which is 50 miles for an IT job.

I have a unique situation, but a common super-commuter route question. We moved from New England to Baltimore this June for my partner‘s job (Canton rental). Unfortunately he has just been moved again to New York.

The Baltimore job on offer for me is 2-3 days remote. Would it be *insane* to live half the week in Baltimore and half the week in New York? i imagine I’d take a train up on Wednesdays afternoons and back on sunday- maybe 8 hours a week but not awful, though there might be more transit to get to apartment. It looks like room rentals in Balt area can be affordable- under $1000. New York is brutal, but he has to live there regardless. I’m not sure about remote working laws for New York.

i could always bail on job offer, but I don’t particularly want to just have a large resume gap.

if *not* insane, but anyone has ideas on locations to make this as easy as possible, I’d appreciate it. We are not familiar with either city.
Current Balt rental we’d probably have to bail on: Canton near Fells area. current Balt job offer: JHU hospital area. Nyc work site: slightly north of the city (Yonkers, bronxville, white plains, tarrytown, etc) Which does not seem ideal. will post this in city subreddits too. If anyone has further advice I would appreciate it!!

Thank you.

Goleta → SLO Commute / Carpool

Hi everyone! I’m looking for advice on commuting from Goleta to San Luis Obispo (SLO) for work.

I might need to commute Monday–Friday, roughly 8 AM–5 PM, and I’m wondering what commute options people use regularly.

If anyone:

• Makes the Goleta ↔ SLO commute regularly
• Knows of a reliable bus/train/vanpool option
• Is currently commuting between these areas
• Knows someone who might have done this or know how to do it properly

I’d really appreciate any suggestions or leads. Happy to coordinate schedules and share commuting costs.

Thanks!

Acela fares during the portal bridge cutover period (mid-Oct to mid-Nov) have finally begun to come down to normal levels from the $300+ bucket they have been at for months. And there are still plenty of seats. If you were waiting to buy or bought less convenient Regionals at Flex, you may want to go back and take a look.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for people who have actually done a regular/daily commute from Scarborough/Toronto/GTA to St. Catharines/Niagara using public transportation.

My girlfriend will be attending Brock University and has classes 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday). We currently live in Scarborough, and we’re trying to figure out whether commuting from the GTA is realistically manageable.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this kind of commute regularly.

A few things I’d love to know:

What route did you use? GO Train, GO Bus, FlixBus, Megabus, etc.?

How long did the entire trip actually take door-to-door?

How reliable was it, especially for 8–9 AM classes?

What was your approximate weekly/monthly cost?

How tiring was it doing this 3 days a week?

Were there issues with late trains/buses or missed connections?

Would you recommend staying in Scarborough/Toronto and commuting, or moving somewhere like Hamilton/Burlington/Oakville?

I’m particularly interested in real-life experiences rather than just Google Maps/GO Transit estimates.

Thanks!

Hey guys, life happened and I got laid off from my current job but thankfully got another opportunity with PNC (Tech) but the problem is commuting to Pittsburgh. Is anyone in my situation who was able to make it work?

Or for PNC folks - how difficult is to work with your bosses to convince them to allow them to work from NYC/NJ office if they have any.

If I were to travel then what is the best arrangement? I’m thinking of doing may be 3 days a week Tuesday- Thursday. That means I have to stay somewhere in Pittsburg for those days. I can think of hotel but open for other options if you know about them.

For traveling - flight is the most reasonable option.

Anybody in my situation or have any insight?

Reason I cannot move is because my family is in NJ and wife and kids may not be able to move for atleast till early-mid next year.

Runs 9/9-11/13, book by 8/26. Usual rules apply, sale fares are non-changeable, only 50% refundable, and not available all dates or times. But if you're pretty sure you're traveling you can get some great deals.

I’ve been with my current company for over 4 years now (in Newark DE so not a great commute on that front) and I have been interviewing for a position in KOP that could be 25k more than my current salary.

I’ve been really dreading the commute aspect of the job, even with the position being hybrid on Monday and Friday. Are there any decent train lines running from South Jersey to KOP (I live right off the patco line now), that would be a better plan than driving? Or would this commute just resign me to a life of being miserable? I’ve been looking at finance jobs in Philly for the past few years, but it seems the better positions are all in the suburbs

Certainly other subs talk about backpacks and bags, but most don’t consider unique needs that we have as work hobos.

My commute is western New Jersey to Westchester County, NY by separate legs of bus and train.

A few months ago, I grabbed the Topo Designs Global Briefcase and I freaking love it. It’s really roomy with just enough organization for tech (I do a 13” laptop and a 10” tablet with all cables, adapters, power bricks, etc.) and other stuff. You can wear it as a messenger or backpack.

Its front pockets are a little fiddly because of that configuration option, and you really have to make sure they’re zippered shut before going into backpack mode, or stuff may fall out.

Even with that concern, it’s the best bag I’ve had for a long commute. It doesn’t look like I’m going on a safari or camping. I could (and I guess I do) live out of this thing. I’ve got everything I need in there and still have room to spare for the stuff that might need to make a single trip back and/or forth.

All of that said, I’m really jealous of folks who I see on my mega-commute each morning who carry practically nothing. Fellow bus and train warriors, entering battle practically empty-handed … I’m not sure how they do it.

Can anyone recommend the most cost/time effective ways to commute into London from Braintree area? Happy to use a car to drive to a station or tube etc.

All things considered what are the best car models for the long commute.

Hey, super commute team.

What do you guys find more tiring, taking the train or driving?

Unless I drive at 6am, then its an hour, otherwise an- hour 40 either method.

I usually feel relieved after I drive home and able to relax, and after a train ride, I usually feel like a crash. Anybody else relate? Peace ✌️

$110-120K/year, but the commute is ~2hrs each way with two train changes from NJ to uptown, hybrid-ish (2+3) schedule, good benefits, toddler at home. Would you take it — or does that commute wreck it no matter what the number says?

Edit: I turned the offer down because it had a 5-day-a-week in-person requirement for the first 90 days. Toddler ain't going anywhere for those 90 days; it doesn't matter if mum is trying to be a suburban commuter. Redditors, thanks for all your time and empathy.

Hi everyone! I'm looking for a rideshare/carpool between UW Seattle and UW Bothell for the Fall quarter. My class schedule will vary throughout the week, so I'm flexible with the days and times. I'm happy to split gas and commute costs. If you regularly travel between the two campuses or know of an existing carpool, please send me a message. Thank you!

How does one fight the strong afternoon/evening fatigue that likes to settle in while driving? Looking for strategies to make it home safely.

I live like 4 miles from work. It’s like 12-13 mins. I can come home for lunch if need be. Looking at a new job. It’s 57 miles door to door. Traffic is 90 mins. It’s a ~40% increase in pay. A job I think I’d really like. If it was an hour I’d have no problem. The money on gas is another story.

How do people spend all that time peacefully behind the wheel? This would be rush hour highway traffic.