Tuesday, May 4, 2010

How far is too far to walk to work? And how does temperature affect the decision?

12 comments:

Andrew said...

I walk from Adams Morgan to Woodley Park each morning and back. That is the extent of any walking I wish to do before taking public transportation.

Weather does affect the decision ... though usually when hot and humid, rainy or snowy ... then I cheat and take a bus to Metro

K8 said...

temperature is the number one factor for me with this. after commuting trains planes and automobiles to work for 3 years out here in bumblefuck the biggest motivation in getting a car again was to avoid arriving to work like a hot sweaty mess in the summer. is that vain? do i care?

erin said...

I despise getting to work sweaty, so that limits me, as does working in Georgetown. There's no real easy way to get here. I currently get a ride, so I'm very lucky.

I don't mind walking home, however, up to a half hour. If it's ridic hot or cold, I'll catch the bus.

Cate said...

i say a half hour walk is appropriate, longer than that and there should be an easier way to get there. if its cold enough for a winter coat, its too cold and if its hot enough that you are sweaty within the first 5 minutes, its too hot.

Dan said...

Right now my commute is about 3 feet. If I had a separate office, it may jump to 15 - 20 feet. I would make sure the air conditioning is on so I didn't get sweaty though.

Also, I say 1 mile is the distance that I would be ok to walk and not use public transportation, weather not being a huge factor. Leslie, I know your commute is 1.8 miles, to give you an idea, 1 mile would be Madam's Organ. You should work there. ;)

Unknown said...

the only time i don't walk is if i have blisters or i am so friggin' late that walking is just not an option. or once i took a cab home because i was just that pissed off about life at the moment :). i just dress strategically and walk on the shady side of the street (when 17th street isn't under perpetual construction). usually takes about 25 min.

pinchie said...

I would walk to work if I could...20 min would be my limit!

Mike said...

I used to walk about twenty blocks. I enjoyed it, great way to decompress after work. Now I moved about three blocks away. Its all good.

John said...

I think if it's so hot you are sweating within 5 minutes of your walk you can head back and work from home.

sean said...

20 minutes max in any weather. And then there's this thing called a bicycle. All the rage with the kids these days.

Scottie said...

Depends...if my client is even remotely Metro accessible (ie: less than a 20 minute walk from a Metro station), I'll walk it. Makes for an absolutely hellish commute for an August day in DC, especially if my client is "business formal". Metro smells awful in August.

Leslie said...

I've been walking to work for about a month. It was 1.6 miles and I would walk so as not to pass a metro. Today I tried to walk from my new place (1.8 miles) only I walked right by the metro after three blocks. I was already feeling sweaty so I quit and got on the metro. I got to work in 30 minutes and felt like a quitter.