While many people are still primarily working from home, there has been a gradual return to the office in several sectors since Covid restrictions eased. Around 27 million people commute to work each year, with an average commute time of 62 minutes a day. Some use public transport to travel to work, but the majority travel by car. Let’s take a look at which option is likely to suit you the best.
Commute By Car
Driving is by far the most popular way to travel to work. It is convenient and makes sense if your place of work is not on a public transport route. For anyone living in a rural area, driving to work is pretty much the only option unless you live within a reasonable distance and can cycle or walk. Commuting via car is essential for some workers. Anyone working in sales or who needs to travel to visit clients or different workplaces will need a car. It is also essential if you have to carry various items of equipment to work.
The Cost of Commuting by Car
Car ownership isn’t cheap. Not only do you need to buy a car, but you’ll also have to maintain it, insure and tax it, and buy fuel. All of these costs soon add up, and with the cost of second-hand cars rising, it is important to budget carefully if commuting via car is your best option. Shop for a good quality used car, such as used Ford cars Essex at Crossways Garage. Alternatively, look at car lease deals.
Car-Share
One way to save money commuting via car is to car share. Ask around to see if anyone else in your workplace lives nearby. If you find one or more people in your area, ask them if they would like to car-share one or more days a week. Many larger companies actively encourage this to improve their green credentials.
Commuting by Public Transport
In larger cities such as London or Manchester, using public transport to commute to work is a good option. Public transport networks are faster than being stuck in gridlocked traffic during rush hour. You can hop on a train, tube, or bus and be at the office in no time. Despite the convenience, however, only 11 percent of commuters use the train to get to work. Why is that?
One of the problems with relying on public transport to get to work is that it isn’t very reliable. Whereas rail networks in many other countries run like clockwork and are relatively cheap, in the UK, privatised rail networks are expensive and chronically unreliable. Trains are routinely cancelled, and season tickets are extremely expensive.
Buses are not a bad option, but it very much depends on whether your place of work lies on a bus route.
Unless you live in a city, using public transport may not be viable, so look at the routes and costs to see if will work.
Weigh up your options and see whether it’s going to be easier and cheaper to commute by car or public transport. And don’t rule out cycling to work if the distance is not that great!
Leave a Reply