Living in Boulder.... working in... Denver???

[Count David]

There are times when I leave IBM Boulder at 0700-0800ish and am content if I get home to the DTC an hour later.

Getting through Boulder isn't a problem. The cops on US 36 in Boulder County are a bit of an annoyance. The left lane does seem to like to go 90 MPH until you get to the Sheridan exit. If you're not going 90, they'll go around you or tailgate you until you get sick of it.

Once you get to I-25, traffic moves slowly until you get past the mousetrap, and then it barely moves at all until you get to Colfax. It picks up a little bit after that and is pretty slow going (but still going) the rest of the way.

I couldn't imagine doing it everyday. As they say, there's more to life.

[pyrotech]

While it's great to have the "work where you live" mindset, it may not be possible. If you want to live in Boulder, I understand. I would love to live there. As for now, I live in Denver and work (temporarily) in Broomfield. It takes me anywhere between 30 - 45 minutes to get to work, but I don't dare get on the freeway (36) until 8:30 to get here by 9:00 and avoid rush-hour.

Coming home, I refuse to leave my office until around 6:00 or later. If I leave at 5:00, I won't be getting home until around 6:00 anyway. If I leave at 6:00, I get home at about 6:45. I don't think I've evern been given the opportunity to go 90 on 36 during either of those times. I'm thrilled if I get to go 65.

If you're wanting to live in Boulder to be close to the mountains and be near your friend, I'd say go for it; it's beautiful there. If you can find a job there or in Broomfield, fantastic. If you find a job in Denver, it's really not TOO bad of a drive, but I'd recommend taking the bus. Constantly filling up your gas tank gets annoying.

[tfox]

If you find a job along the 36 corridor in Broomfield/Westminster, you'll have a fairly easy commute from Boulder. But if you have to merge onto I-25 going south, your commute will be painful. I-25 is congested much of the time there and traffic is usually backed up all the way to the DTC. In fact, commuting north to south and back again on I-25 is usually much worse than the opposite.

Personally, I wouldn't even consider commuting any further than downtown Denver from Boulder. Downtown Denver only because you COULD take the very frequent bus service between Denver and Boulder.

[darjoh]

Aurora, CO to Boulder, CO - Google Maps


I commuted this route for 11 months. 60-75 minutes actual average time, included traffic delays, weather, etc.

NOT an enjoyable commute. The stress caused me to speed, just to not deal with it for as long. Although the speeding never made a difference.
The cutting off from other drivers, using the exit lane to get ahead, and cut back in. Other drivers squeezing each other out of merging into traffic. Just plain horrible. Not to mention the road conditions. I couldn't tell you how many rock chips I got on my windshield in that short time. One rock was the size of a golf ball, HUGE damage to my truck.

(So glad I live in Oregon now. I have a 50 mile commute, that takes me 57-62 minutes to complete, hardly any traffic, and somewhat more competent drivers to contend with.)

[WhereTheSidewalkEnds]

Originally Posted by tfox

Personally, I wouldn't even consider commuting any further than downtown Denver from Boulder. Downtown Denver only because you COULD take the very frequent bus service between Denver and Boulder.

Yep, that's what my husband does - takes that express.

Yesterday he had to drive because he had to go to a meeting in south Denver in the afternoon. It reminds him why RTD is great - and so much cheaper.