To be considering leaving my job because of this?

[fadedafternoons]

I live in a village about 5 miles from work.

There are ongoing roadworks just outside the village meaning road closures and diversions.

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that at peak times it’s like an island, no one can get in or out. It takes me an hour and a half to get to work. Coming home is hit and miss.

I’m utterly sick to death of it.

AIBU?

Meh I have a 90mile commute on some of the busiest motorways in the south. Also with road works. It should take about 1.5 hours. If I leave at 8 for a 10am lecture, I will be an hour late and sit in 3 hours of hell. If I leave at 6.30am I will be there by 8am. So 6.30am it is, and sometimes I have a nap in my office because I’m so tired!

As others have said, leave earlier and then enjoy a coffee/early work prep/Tesco shop. It’s crap but hey it’s the modern world.

Yanbu at all!

my normal drive is 20 mins and it took me an hour last night for no explicable reason! it was hell.

I cannot imagine doing that for months on end!

Meh I have a 90mile commute on some of the busiest motorways in the south. Also with road works. It should take about 1.5 hours. If I leave at 8 for a 10am lecture, I will be an hour late and sit in 3 hours of hell. If I leave at 6.30am I will be there by 8am. So 6.30am it is, and sometimes I have a nap in my office because I’m so tired!
As others have said, leave earlier and then enjoy a coffee/early work prep/Tesco shop. It’s crap but hey it’s the modern world.

See, maybe I’m just a princess and need to toughen up, or maybe it’s me getting cantankerous in my old age; but, honestly, fuck that shit. Life’s far too short to spend three hours every day stuck in traffic. What for? Surely there are jobs that are just as good and closer?

I recognise that I’m in a position of privilege to be able to say this but, seriously, I just wouldn’t fucking do it. It’s no way to live.

Combining two rejected options, could you park before the roadworks and just bike the last bit?

Thanks for the sympathy!

Blibby, the roadworks stretch for MILES. I don’t think people who aren’t local realise quite how wide and sprawling they are.

So make it a point to find out each day/week which roads are next scheduled, because there has to be permits and applications made for closures. It isn't just a free for all

you'd think, but in practice roadworks seem to pop up all over the place with no warning. I often wonder why on earth I didn't see a sign for something (and then at other times they say there will be roadworks for say 4 weeks and they last a day - obviously it's better that way round but it stresses people out). And if you want to see future roadworks on the roadworks website you have to register, and I don't see why I should give my details just to see where the roadworks are going to be.

could you get a bus? it wouldn't make it any quicker but at least you could like, read a book or browse the internet or whatever? might make it feel slightly less hellish?

sorry if that's already been ruled out!

The buses aren’t regular (and are very expensive) - would involve a 3-bus journey which would cost around £15 a day.

Cambridge is flat and pretty dry. An e-bike would be perfect for that distance. 40 minutes on an ebike vs hours in a car, I know which I'd go for.

Pretty dry

It really isn’t, at the moment, it’s sinking.

It is realy shit isn’t it. Really when you look at it the public transport system in this country isn’t fit for purpose. London’s mostly sorted, of course, because it’s the only place that matters in the whole world apparently, and some larger cities are pretty well oiled but there’s such a large chunk of the country that is just impossible to live in without a car and even then, tiny peaceful villages are fume-riddles car parks at peak hours.

fade yeah scratch that! nobody wants to do 3 busses!

I love how everyone is going crazy over reducing plastic but no one seems to give a shit about all the hours commuters spend in their cars.

@fadedafternoons don't rush into anything but have a look round and see what jobs are going.

@MollyButton has a very stricter and logical approach to the challenges you face and factors to influence your decision making

I commute 15 miles each day (round trip) by eBike for simliar reasons. Its a game changer.
Panniers with a change of clothing and really decent lights and waterproofs. Its very very doable I promise

this thread is a prime example of why companies should look more about making roles WFH.

My job could probably be done at home like 90% of the time, but our company believes (for office staff anyway, not sales who do wtf they like) that you're only working if you're in the office visibly working.

They could cut their overheads by sending me home to work, one less office to heat and light etc, less cups of tea made all day and I wouldn't have to commute. I could manage being in 2 days a week tops really and coming in if and when I had to for whatever emergency might occur.

QuestionableMouse plenty of people are losing their shit over how our fixation with office based work and 9-5 is causing massive stress and environmental impact.
We really need to be pushing more for flexible working, green travel and remote working.
I'd cycle even in shit weather if the alternative was me quitting my job and losing my income.

Sorry to sound stupid, but wouldn't the OP still face the same problems if she were to change jobs? Or is there an option to find work in the opposite direction from your current commute, @fadedafternoons?
I do sympathize, though, it sounds horrific. Would you be able to move house to be much closer to your work? If you are renting, it would be easier, presumably, rather than trying to sell a property you are leaving because of the terrible long-term roadworks!

It’s utterly horrific and I don’t think I’m seriously contemplating leaving. Just in despair!

A bike IS the answer, surely.

1. Bike to the train station, leave bike there.
2. Bike through the roadworks to your car which is left at nearest point at other side of roadworks.

Even if you did the train every other day using a bike to get there it would take some of the crap away surely?

Sigh. The nearest train station is about 7 miles away! To cycle there I would have to go past my workplace!

The nearest train station would still involve fighting through the worst of the traffic.
What if you go out and take a station from further away? @fadedafternoons

I wouldn't want to be spending 1 hour of my own time at work /in a cafe reading a book everyday just to avoid traffic - that totally sucks. Also, what if you have other responsibilities like childcare - 5 hours a week. No.
And those who spend hours commuting through choice, then that's what you chose and you don't get a job locally just to sit in hours and hours of traffic.
I'm with you OP.

But I would still have to get through the traffic.

There are two ways out of the village. One into the middle of roadworks. Second into the middle of all the congestion of people avoiding the roadworks.

Don't dismiss the idea of cycling without giving it a little thought. I know 8 miles sounds daunting but it will take you less than the hour and a half you are normally stuck in your car. You will be outside and get to experience the day light you are currently missing!
It will take a little bit of investment in some good warm, wet weather clothing and decent lights but you can make cycling even in winter a completely comfortable experience.