Anonymous wrote:Ummmm--I love to walk and I think you guys are being a little lazy! 1.5 miles is maybe a 20 minute walk, which is great exercise. Get comfy shoes and wear warm clothes in the winter. It's a cheap way to stay skinnier! As long as it's a safe walk (for traffic and crime), that's nothing!

It's one thing of this is your total walk and you reach your destination. Walking 1.5 miles to metro, then taking metro for another 10-20 min and same in the evening just stops making it practical to use metro unless u drive there. I live 3/4 mile from metro, and sometimes I walk in the morning or walk back, but a lot of times I just ask dh to pick me up from the station with the car. Can't imagine walking 3 miles to and from metro on a daily basis after working for 9-10 hours and then also having 100 things to do at home.

Anonymous wrote:Mine is 3/4 mile and although I like walking, it is a pain when you're in a hurry. The biggest thing is time. Also, it really sucks when it's pouring out.

This. Best for walking is under 0.5 mile.

Anonymous wrote:Ummmm--I love to walk and I think you guys are being a little lazy! 1.5 miles is maybe a 20 minute walk, which is great exercise. Get comfy shoes and wear warm clothes in the winter. It's a cheap way to stay skinnier! As long as it's a safe walk (for traffic and crime), that's nothing!

"ummmmmmmmmmmm", it sounds like someone here doesn't live in dc or have kids she wants to see after work? Ever walk 1+ miles in a suit on a 95 degree day?

Ummmm--I love to walk and I think you guys are being a little lazy! 1.5 miles is maybe a 20 minute walk, which is great exercise. Get comfy shoes and wear warm clothes in the winter. It's a cheap way to stay skinnier! As long as it's a safe walk (for traffic and crime), that's nothing!

a mile. dh does it every day -- rain, heat, etc.

OP, I used to walk 3 miles home every day, bypassing metro altogether. I rode in, then walked home so I wasn't sweaty. I frequently carried stuff home -- I just got a good backpack that balanced the weight on my hips.

I lost 15 lbs and was in GREAT shape. Almost any weather is doable with good "gear" (right clothes, shoes, and raingear). I also always had things queued up to listen to (podcasts, audiobooks, music, NPR, etc). We've since moved and my walk is now shorter, but I really enjoyed those long walks!

Give it a try, OP -- you never know until you test the waters. You might be like me and find it an incredible way to combine exercise and commuting

I live just over a mile.. a pleasant walk. There are also multiple buses that would take me to a Metro station, which run frequently. The bus stop is just 2 blocks from my home so that is convenient. I used the bus option lots this very cold winter.

As for the PP who said she can't walk far in heels - I agree. I wear flip flops or Toms in the summer, boots in the winter, then change into work shoes.

My husband walks the 3/4 mile to/from every day, and it's fine. I used to live 1.5 miles from where I went to grad school, and I biked in the summer and occasionally took the bus, but I walked when there was snow on the ground (this was up north). It was okay, but I would not intentionally choose more than about a mile of walking to metro/destination daily if possible.

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered a treadmill desk? I know it sounds super nerdy but if you like walking and have work to do from home, it might be something that could work for you.

I would love to do that. I am slowly transitioning to a standing desk and would love to have a treadmill desk, but my colleagues think I am eccentric enough as it is. Not sure I could actually get away with the treadmill at work, even though I do have my own office. Maybe in a couple years when management changes over. And they're expensive too, so I'd have to save up.

Or you could try biking as some PPs suggested?

To me, 1/2 mile is the max, purely because of the horrible weather here. I love walking and would happily walk 1 or 2 miles -- when I lived in Philadelphia I walked 45 mins (a little over 2 miles) each way and it was great. But I find here I just can't do that in the summer, it's too hot and humid and sticky even in the early morning. (Philly was cooler and less humid.) After 10 minutes I would get too sweaty. So we live exactly half a mile from the metro and when the weather is nice, I try to extend my walk on the other end of the train by getting off one or two stops early. When the weather's bad, I don't bother.

Are there any bus stops by you that run to metro? You could walk half a mile or whatever you're comfortable with to the bus, then get on and ride it to metro ... it'd give you something, anyway.

This is PP. If papers and books are weighing you down, you might consider investing in a laptop or e-reader to lessen the weight and then plan to walk to the metro and home.

Have you considered a treadmill desk? I know it sounds super nerdy but if you like walking and have work to do from home, it might be something that could work for you.

Anonymous wrote:OP, here. Thanks, this is helpful. I currently drive into work (and it's a chore). However, the metro is 1.75 miles away. Because of my long hours and desire to spend time with my kids, I haven't been able to fit in exercise in quite a while. It's seriously affecting my mood, energy levels, and waist line. I thought maybe I could walk to and from metro and maybe kill two birds with one stone.

I don't work in an office where I can show up sweaty, though, and I carry a bunch of work home. Thanks, looks like it's not a good plan.

Since you have the option, you can always walk some days, but not all.

OP, here. Thanks, this is helpful. I currently drive into work (and it's a chore). However, the metro is 1.75 miles away. Because of my long hours and desire to spend time with my kids, I haven't been able to fit in exercise in quite a while. It's seriously affecting my mood, energy levels, and waist line. I thought maybe I could walk to and from metro and maybe kill two birds with one stone.

I don't work in an office where I can show up sweaty, though, and I carry a bunch of work home. Thanks, looks like it's not a good plan.

Mine is 3/4 mile and although I like walking, it is a pain when you're in a hurry. The biggest thing is time. Also, it really sucks when it's pouring out.