Remorse Upon Remorse

[Anonymous]

My first house was a brand new house I had built in Manassas. Instead of being thrilled at being in the new house, several months into it, I began to resent it big time. Sunday afternoons, the dread would start to set in at the prospect of another week of commuting, the getting up at ungodly hours in order to have a chance of a decent commute. With long commutes around here, every minute you are late getting out the door, your delay goes up exponentially.

I really am surprised that people don't consider the commute this many years after the big population push into this region. It's real and unless you work an early shift, these types of commutes are not good for anyone's well being.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG STOP ARGUING AND BRAGGING ABOUT YOURSELVES YOU SOUND INSANE

Dude, this is DCUM. What do you expect?

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT. It's been 5 or 6 pages of those two individuals one-upping and bitching at each other over their COMMUTES for pete's sake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG STOP ARGUING AND BRAGGING ABOUT YOURSELVES YOU SOUND INSANE

Dude, this is DCUM. What do you expect?

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT. It's been 5 or 6 pages of those two individuals one-upping and bitching at each other over their COMMUTES for pete's sake.

You need to calm down and stop yelling like a lunatic.

P.S. it's more than 2 people: 1 crazy lady bragging about her 6am commute and many others people who don't want to hear about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG STOP ARGUING AND BRAGGING ABOUT YOURSELVES YOU SOUND INSANE

Dude, this is DCUM. What do you expect?

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT. It's been 5 or 6 pages of those two individuals one-upping and bitching at each other over their COMMUTES for pete's sake.

You need to calm down and stop yelling like a lunatic.

P.S. it's more than 2 people: 1 crazy lady bragging about her 6am commute and many others people who don't want to hear about it.

I don't know how many people it is (I'm guessing you are 1 of them?) but turning it into an argument is what makes it go on and on and on and become ridiculous. There are so many nasty people on here it is amazing. So she thinks her commute is reasonable, big freaking deal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG STOP ARGUING AND BRAGGING ABOUT YOURSELVES YOU SOUND INSANE

Dude, this is DCUM. What do you expect?

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT. It's been 5 or 6 pages of those two individuals one-upping and bitching at each other over their COMMUTES for pete's sake.

You need to calm down and stop yelling like a lunatic.

P.S. it's more than 2 people: 1 crazy lady bragging about her 6am commute and many others people who don't want to hear about it.

I don't know how many people it is (I'm guessing you are 1 of them?) but turning it into an argument is what makes it go on and on and on and become ridiculous. There are so many nasty people on here it is amazing. So she thinks her commute is reasonable, big freaking deal!

Not PP, but the big deal is that she's not posting anything that makes sense in the context of what OP asked.

It's like she has this compulsion to come on here and brag about her strange schedule and job in the burbs, even if it doesn't help OP at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 16:07, one of the elementary schools in Bowie, Whitehall was a Blue Ribbon school and then just won the National Blue Ribbon distinction (one of 289 schools nationwide). Bowie is nice, close to lots of shopping options, but the commute in during rush hour is long.

I live in Bowie and commute downtown daily, and I don't find it long at all. I agree with the other Bowie PP who said it takes, on average, 45 minutes, but sometimes it's actually more like 30 minutes (especially going in). It's usually going home that it takes the 45 minutes or longer, if there is an accident.

But honestly, I've found that the longest part of my commute is the downtown driving. Getting from Bowie to DC is fast. It's driving within DC that takes forever.

And that's where I call BS on all of the city folk who brag about their commute. Unless you actually live close to where you work or you're close to metro and don't have to change lines to get to work, I think it can be a rough commute to work even if you live "close in."

For example, I once tried to get from Capitol Hill to Georgetown during rush hour and it took me well over an hour, and there weren't any accidents or road closures. It was just normal rush hour.

Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

I realize this is an old post, but OP, you need to contact Steny Hoyer and local govt officials. I am from Waldorf, my parents still live there, and I know it is a hellish and unpredictable commute. Those idiots who built, and allowed the building of that shopping center in Brandywine, should be fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are renting our house in the city and had a new home built in Charles County, MD. I like the features in our new home but hate the commute and it's just about driving me insane. Last night because of some accidents, the nats game, and the weather - it took 2 hours to get home! ARGGGGHHHHH I went to be angry, frustrated and full of regret. Woke this morning thinking it would be better and it was another hour and a half commute into work. Please tell me if you've experienced this and if it gets better. At this point, I'm counting down the days until the lease is up at the DC house and I'd be willing to pay 2 mortgages just for some sanity. FWIW I had it pretty easy before and could walk from the city house to work in 20 mins so I know its an adjustment period but it's been almost 1 year and I dread going home to what should be my dream house. Before the snarky remarks start - I've already beaten myself up enough about not looking into the commuting options before buying. We've tried the commuter bus, driving, and driving/metro - either way it's crazy traffic

Sorry, that sounds awful.

Unfortunately, with DC Metro area population projected to continue to grow rapidly over the next two decades, these kinds of commutes are going to get worse. Right now is the best it's ever going to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 16:07, one of the elementary schools in Bowie, Whitehall was a Blue Ribbon school and then just won the National Blue Ribbon distinction (one of 289 schools nationwide). Bowie is nice, close to lots of shopping options, but the commute in during rush hour is long.

I live in Bowie and commute downtown daily, and I don't find it long at all. I agree with the other Bowie PP who said it takes, on average, 45 minutes, but sometimes it's actually more like 30 minutes (especially going in). It's usually going home that it takes the 45 minutes or longer, if there is an accident.

But honestly, I've found that the longest part of my commute is the downtown driving. Getting from Bowie to DC is fast. It's driving within DC that takes forever.

And that's where I call BS on all of the city folk who brag about their commute. Unless you actually live close to where you work or you're close to metro and don't have to change lines to get to work, I think it can be a rough commute to work even if you live "close in."

For example, I once tried to get from Capitol Hill to Georgetown during rush hour and it took me well over an hour, and there weren't any accidents or road closures. It was just normal rush hour.

Just my 2 cents.

Wait. You realize that if you're commute is Bowie to DC, then commuting through DC to your office, that COMMUTING THROUGH DC TO YOUR OFFICE IS ACTUALLY PART OF YOUR COMMUTE.

By the way, it takes 20 min door-to-door to ride from Cap Hill to Georgetown on a bike. That's why you see all those bike lanes cropping up in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 14:43: I really don't see how you can be "out there" and still have a 30-minute commute (on a bad day). We live 6 miles from DH's job downtown, and that's a 30-minute commute (on an average day). There really aren't any no-traffic entry points into the city (are there???).

+1. Takes thirty minutes to get 5 or so miles down Connecticut from chevy chase and worse if a knucklehead leaves his car parked or a cop has someone pulled over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

By the way, it takes 20 min door-to-door to ride from Cap Hill to Georgetown on a bike. That's why you see all those bike lanes cropping up in the city.

Biking is neither appealing nor feasible for quite a few people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait. You realize that if you're commute is Bowie to DC, then commuting through DC to your office, that COMMUTING THROUGH DC TO YOUR OFFICE IS ACTUALLY PART OF YOUR COMMUTE.

By the way, it takes 20 min door-to-door to ride from Cap Hill to Georgetown on a bike. That's why you see all those bike lanes cropping up in the city.

Yes, but the PP living in Bowie has a good ES, a MS/HS that's better than any general-enrollment DCPS except Deal/Wilson and a SFH ... all for a commute that's a few minutes more.

Any of the usual EOTP options will be pricier, necessitate the private school/charter/OOB dance, perhaps be less safe, and not really cut that much off the commute.

I will say that living closer in does help in Northern VA since everyone's trying to cross the bridges.

As for bike commuting, how does that work in the winter? I'm guessing you (unlike many workers) have ready access to a gym/shower for the summer bike commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 14:43: I really don't see how you can be "out there" and still have a 30-minute commute (on a bad day). We live 6 miles from DH's job downtown, and that's a 30-minute commute (on an average day). There really aren't any no-traffic entry points into the city (are there???).

+1. Takes thirty minutes to get 5 or so miles down Connecticut from chevy chase and worse if a knucklehead leaves his car parked or a cop has someone pulled over.

Same here, White House to Georgetown is 25 minutes evening rush. Georgetown to Glen Echo is 10 to 15. The closure of Pa. Ave has crippled cross town traffic.

[Anonymous]

I would use a motor cycle cause it would be bad assy

[Anonymous]

i am looking at a commute from Bowie to Bethesda... and every morning this week i have clocked it on my iphone and at 6:30am it is 42 minutes. when i clock it at 7am it is closer to 55 minutes.