Commuting to NYC from Ringwood? (Wayne, Nutley: how much, houses, movie theaters)

[icibiu]

So hubby and I are going to look at some houses in Ringwood today and I'm wondering if anyone lives in Ringwood (or West Milford) and commutes into NYC. Hubby works by Port Authority and I work in the North Bergen/Secaucus area of NJ. Are we asking for trouble going out this far? What's the traffic like? He'll be taking the bus to and from the city and I will be driving (we currently only have one car and it is a GUZZLER!!) if we do chose Ringwood we'll probably get a second smaller car for my commute. We really love the look and feel of Ringwood, the schools are GREAT and we have some family in West Milford so even though it's a big change (we live in Lyndhurst now) we won't be completely isolated. Any insights greatly appreciated!!

[rscalzo]

North Bergen/Secaucus

Rt. 3 is stop and go anytime after 6:30. It took me 30 minutes to at time an hour just to come in from Nutley. One accident and you have had it. Bad weather and you better make plans to stay in the area of be ready for a multi hour commute.

You might want to think about the rail transportation into Secaucus.

The return trip can be long. Rt.3 west anytime after 4:30 or 5 is slow until Rt. 21. 3/46 , 3/17 and Rt17 all have their problems. You are facing a lot of traffic 0one too small a road.

If the property makes the time involved to and from your future home, then go for it.

[johnfrisco]

After a week or 2 with that commute you and your husband may want to kill each other. But Ringwood is a great town. With that commute you and your husband will barely get a chance to see each other. Sorry

[luckyshoes]

Yeah, I have to agree. I think with both of you doing those commutes, it's not going to be fun living up there.

[ghuber]

That communte will not be fun. 23 is a so slow in the morning with all the traffic lights, 287 is ok till you get to 208 and 4 has bad traffic too.

[icibiu]

bump!

[marye711]

I think they have NYC buses from there......I know my sister lived there and she said there were alot of cummoters to NYC she hated commuting just to Parsippany 287 was always a mess in the winter and always had an accident.

[Donnach]

How much are the buses? And is it convenient to catch one or do you have to drive far to catch a bus?
HOw long is the bus ride? I assume it goes into Port Authority. Thanks.

[Cindy1971]

Coming late, but I grew up in Ringwood and there are definitely buses (not sure the price anymore, it's been awhile and I don't know if there are monthly passes). But yes, they bring you into Port Authority. It's a long ride during rush hour (upwards of 90 minutes) but they do have express buses that go straight from Ringwood Commons (near the library) to NYC.

It's not a great commute, but lots of people in town do it. You will definitely not be alone.

[Cindy1971]

PS:

I should also add, though this might be a bit late for you, that the schools in Ringwood are NOT great. They are fine; I got a decent education but they don't compare to the schools in Wayne or Paramus. (My dad taught in Paramus for years and I was so jealous of what his kids were learning!) They are perfectly decent schools, your kids will be fine if they go there, but if that is the reason you are picking Ringwood, you might reconsider.

Also, even if your husband takes the bus, you WILL still need a second car. Ringwood has no street lights, traffic lights or sidewalls so there are no options to get anywhere at all except by car. (Your kids will mostly be bussed to school but depending on where you live, they might have to walk to the middle school.) There are no malls, movie theaters, etc so you will have to drive the kids everywhere.

I don't mean to sound negative; it's a pretty good place to raise a family, I am just warning you.