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AIBU?

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Original poster

Longer, cheaper commute, or more exercise - WWYD?

35 replies

ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 20:25

I’ve got a new job and have two options for my commute. I can get a bus (£6 a day, or something like £90 a month when I get a bus pass). The bus is an hour and it’s very much door to door. About 1200 steps by 9am.

My other option is to get the bus to and from the train station, get the train and then walk for 25 minutes the other side. It’s an extra £60 a month with a season ticket.

I’m going to try out getting the train tomorrow to see if it’s actually feasible, but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be.

It would amount to about 5,000 extra steps a day. By the end of today (after the gym) I was only on 6,500, so I think it would be beneficial to me to do the train and walk, but I don’t know if I’m also just being idealistic and I’d actually hate it.

YABU - just get the bus and suck up the lower steps.

YANBU - I’d choose the walk too.

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hididdlyho · 27/08/2025 10:09

I walk for 40 minutes rather than drive to work. I have waterproof trousers for if it's raining really heavily. It doesn't bother me, but I learnt to drive late in life, so was used to walking everywhere by that point. If I didn't have walking my dogs and walking to work as part of my routine I would barely get any steps in. Tried driving to work and using a treadmill in the time I'd 'saved', but could never be arsed to actually stick with it.

KnickerlessParsons · 27/08/2025 10:00

Mix it up. Train one day, bus the next.
or go for a walk when you get home.

PurpleThistle7 · 27/08/2025 09:58

I wouldn't like a double-public transport route - you'll end up needing to line up two things that aren't usually consistent (unless both the bus and train are quite regular?)

I'd focus on one form of transport and see what you can figure out - a different bus route that stops a couple (better) miles away, something involving a bike if you are comfortable with that.

StreetStrife · 27/08/2025 09:43

I'd get the bus and get off early and walk on the homebound leg (unless he weather was too bad). That way I could bring a coffee and read or listen to a podcast on the way in, then decompress with a walk at the end of the day.

I've done a commute that was bus-train-bus and relying on connections is an absolute nightmare and to be avoided where possible.

Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 27/08/2025 07:29

rookiemere · 27/08/2025 06:58

I may have missed it, but counting in the walk at the other end, how long is the commute each way by train ?

If you don’t need to buy a long term pass, I would try each for a month. £60 per month is roughly the cost of a gym, so if you’re walking 50 minutes each day that goes a long way for your base fitness.

About 45 minutes in total - so more expensive but shorter. I think I’ve found another bus route that would work. So I’ll try that out tomorrow. I just need something to keep me exercising! I was going stir crazy yesterday afternoon without any movement 🤣

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rookiemere · 27/08/2025 06:58

I may have missed it, but counting in the walk at the other end, how long is the commute each way by train ?

If you don’t need to buy a long term pass, I would try each for a month. £60 per month is roughly the cost of a gym, so if you’re walking 50 minutes each day that goes a long way for your base fitness.

Laura95167 · 26/08/2025 23:05

Id get the bus. Rainy days id read, sunny days id get off early and walk

Ineffable23 · 26/08/2025 22:32

I don't think I'd be prepared to pay extra to have a commute that must then surely end up over an hour? I think I'd either see about cycling, or walking from my house to get a bus further along the route. Or maybe getting a flexible session ticket (8 days in 28) so I could mix and match.

Chompingatthebeat · 26/08/2025 22:27

Train and bike

MiseryIn · 26/08/2025 22:25

I find relying on bus connections really hard so having to do two of them would be the dealbreaker for me.

I always found that the bus and train never quite married up so I’d have to leave super early to make sure I was there on time. So on that basis I’d take the bus the whole way and use the time for other things - listen to books, podcasts. Learn a language or something like that.

Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 21:30

MsMartini · 26/08/2025 21:10

I'd do the bus and train, no question, assuming the £60 isn't a deal breaker. Two hours a day on a bus is such a waste. if you walk briskly both ways, then that's your daily walk box ticked, and you've had some fresh air. 25 mins is doable in all but the worst weather I think.

Yeah, we’re a coastal town too so if it’s really snowing then the country has pretty much ground to a halt 🤣

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MsMartini · 26/08/2025 21:10

I'd do the bus and train, no question, assuming the £60 isn't a deal breaker. Two hours a day on a bus is such a waste. if you walk briskly both ways, then that's your daily walk box ticked, and you've had some fresh air. 25 mins is doable in all but the worst weather I think.

Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 21:07

Sleepness · 26/08/2025 21:01

I did it in my last job. Not so much for the exercise but for a nicer commute, the train being far preferable to the bus IMO.

The walk was excellent at the start and end of the day for some good thinking time.

A good waterproof coat with a hood, and good waterproof gloves are a must, if you think you're going to carry on though winter.

Yes I’m eyeing up a couple of coats from regatta, but I can’t bring myself to buy anything before I’ve been on holiday 🤣

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Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 21:06

HelloHattie · 26/08/2025 20:58

Get the bus and a walking pad

A walking pad just feels like a waste of money to me because I don’t think I’d enjoy it

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Sleepness · 26/08/2025 21:01

I did it in my last job. Not so much for the exercise but for a nicer commute, the train being far preferable to the bus IMO.

The walk was excellent at the start and end of the day for some good thinking time.

A good waterproof coat with a hood, and good waterproof gloves are a must, if you think you're going to carry on though winter.

HelloHattie · 26/08/2025 20:58

Get the bus and a walking pad

sequin2000 · 26/08/2025 20:55

Can you walk or drive to the station and leave your car 10/15 mins away without paying for parking? I have a walk of 20 mins either side of the train to work and absolutely love it. I started when my car died and now get 10,000 steps just on the commute. The weather is rarely poor but I have suitable outerwear when needed.

Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 20:51

NuffSaidSam · 26/08/2025 20:45

Could you walk further to the bus at your end? Get on four stops further on or something.

I'd really begrudge paying £60 extra for a less convenient commute, but that's just me!

Maybe a couple but I don’t think it would be worth it! I’m going to try it out tomorrow and just see how it goes, and go from there 😂

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NuffSaidSam · 26/08/2025 20:45

Could you walk further to the bus at your end? Get on four stops further on or something.

I'd really begrudge paying £60 extra for a less convenient commute, but that's just me!

Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 20:41

itsgettingweird · 26/08/2025 20:40

I can see why the choice isn’t as linear as would first seem then!

Will you get a bus pass even if you use the train? So on awful weather days there would be the option of door to door or would you pay the daily ticket price of busing to the train station?

Incan see why you want to walk some distance though. I go stir crazy if I don’t walk at least 20-30 minutes a day!

Show quote history

Yeah the bus pass is non negotiable because parking at the station is extortionate! It’s only been one day and the lack of any sort of steps is doing my head in

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itsgettingweird · 26/08/2025 20:40

ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 20:37

Yep! Train route follows the main road, bus route follows the back lanes. Really bizarre and one of the benefits of small town living 🙃

Show quote history

I can see why the choice isn’t as linear as would first seem then!

Will you get a bus pass even if you use the train? So on awful weather days there would be the option of door to door or would you pay the daily ticket price of busing to the train station?

Incan see why you want to walk some distance though. I go stir crazy if I don’t walk at least 20-30 minutes a day!

Mrsttcno1 · 26/08/2025 20:38

If the train is going to be an extra £60 a month, there’s genuinely no way you can either walk to a further bus stop to get on or get off earlier and walk further that end, and you’re really bothered about your steps then I’d say have a look on Fb marketplace and just buy a secondhand walking pad treadmill type thing and get some steps in at home before/after work, or walk outside.

Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 20:37

itsgettingweird · 26/08/2025 20:34

Is the train route a totally different route to the bus then?

Otherwise how is walking 25 minutes to the same place safer from the train station than a further away bus stop?!

Yep! Train route follows the main road, bus route follows the back lanes. Really bizarre and one of the benefits of small town living 🙃

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itsgettingweird · 26/08/2025 20:34

Is the train route a totally different route to the bus then?

Otherwise how is walking 25 minutes to the same place safer from the train station than a further away bus stop?!

Original poster
ThatCyanSheep · 26/08/2025 20:33

londongirl12 · 26/08/2025 20:31

Sorry, just seen your post. Maybe see how the train goes and then if it’s only paid monthly, you could swap in the winter months if necessary?

I’m usually pretty good at forcing myself to get out on a walk during my lunch anyway (or I was at my old job!), I’d be out in all weathers. It’s just the fact that there’s not really anywhere to walk from my building, and it’s only half an hour so not a ton of time to eat and walk!

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