How do you get to work?

[Cavalier90]

I've bought a motorbike to get me to work. At my age I should know better but the US based computer company I work for where "every day sucks" have decided to move off the client site to a new state of the art building several miles away. The latest planning rules for new buildings in the UK only allow approximately 1 car park space for 3 workers. Where we are currently there is no problem parking, so although it takes 40 minutes to travel 13 miles to work, there is always a space when I get there. In a few months time that will not be the case, so I have bought a 6 year old Yamaha TDM850 with 25,000 miles on the clock that I should be able to park virtually anywhere. I collect it in a weeks time.

The building should be great, but if we cannot get to it, life will be hell. Buses run frequently but are a lot slower than a car and street parking is being stopped by the local council by painting double yellow lines at the side of the road (double yellow lines in the UK show parking restrictions).

Has anyone else got problems like this, or is the UK uniqiue? If you have, how do you get around the problem?

[pop pop]

Right now, no similar problem, but that's about to change. Here in the U.S., the division I work at has some where between 5000 and 6000 employees, with more than adequate parking. Like a typical american, I drive a big vehicle--a four wheel drive pick-up truck.

I relocate to Japan the end of next month. The american contingent of our team will be about 25 people. We have been allocated 5 parking places. I went to Japan last week to find a place to live, and do some other logistical research. I picked a nice apartment (flat) right on the bus line about 15 minutes from work. Of course, I will not be taking my pick up over there. :( The flat includes parking. In fact, in Japan, you can't buy a vehicle until you "prove" you have some place to park it. My idea, should I decide to buy a vehicle, was to get a small motorcycle for reasons similar to yours. My wife has other ideas. :eek: We'll see how it works out.

[pave_spectre]

Hehehe. The one good thing about living on base is that I am only about 500m walk from my unit garrison. :D

No worrying about traffic, getting there on time or finding a parking spot. I'll see how long that lasts before I am required to move off base.

[FrankSG]

I'm retired now so I don't have to worry about it. But when I worked for General Electric as an Engine Lathe operator, the plant was only a 10 minute walk from where I live. When the plant shut down, I went into the business selling insurance and the office I worked in was a 10 minute or less drive. It was a real bummer when the plant shut down because at that time factory work was hard to find. I hated selling, but I had to earn a living and as they say, "Necessity is the mother of invention". I enjoy my retirement very much!

[classicsoftware]

I get in my 1991 Buick POS with 72,000 miles on it and drive 4.5 miles to work. I park in the farthest spot from the door and reverse the process on the way home....

[PrntRhd]

I wish my commute was so easy. I repair stuff at customer offices, so 30,000 miles/yr is normal. A 2003 Toyota Tacoma Doublecab PreRunner is what I am driving right now. Black Sand metalflake with SnugTop cap.

[Budfred]

I walk when the weather is nice and drive otherwise... I have just over 12,000 miles on my almost 4 year old Saturn... I used to drive all over the area - I like this better... :D

[beerbelly]

I consider myself lucky compared to others. I drive 7.5 miles it takes about 10-12 min. since the majority of that is interstate road.
Parking used to be a nightmare for the PM shift when when all employees (we have 2 eight hour shifts) needed a spot, but someone came up with a brilliant idea to leave a half hour between the two shifts, now AM shift is long gone before PM gets there.
I chuckled when budfred stated he drove 12,000 miles in 4 years. My sister is in sales, and once drove that much in 4 weeks!

[Cavalier90]

Oh for the freedom and space of the US. :mad: I sypathise with Pop Pop, though i do like motorcycling, my wife doesn't. I also worry about the inevitable accidents especially in the Winter, and hope I survive for my kids sake.