Am I crazy to live in the East Village and commute daily to Columbia on W. 168th street? (Union: daycare)

[dkaa]

Hi everyone...

I am moving to NYC this summer to work at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital on West 168th street. However I couldn't find any affordable daycare near the hospital or in the upper west side. I did find one in the east village and my wife wants to live there.

1) Am I just crazy to do the commute everyday?
2) Is the L train to the A or 1 train the best bet and is the L train in the morning rush hour packed to the rim and a pain to wait for?
3) Would it be worth it for me to walk across town to west 4th street to take the A or 1 train up instead of waiting for the L?
4) Is there a better way that you recommend me going?
5) Hopstop says that the commute would take around an hour... is that really possible?

Thank you for any advice, it is very much appreciated.

[Dark of the Moon]

Originally Posted by dkaa

5) Hopstop says that the commute would take around an hour... is that really possible?

Yup -- that sounds about right ...

[Viralmd]

It might. Actually one of my medical school classmates did just that. He said he got a lot of studying done on the A train.

[K 22]

Well, I would discourage taking the 1 since that's a local train and the A is an express train, which has a one-stop jump from 59th Street to 125th Street.

You're talking about the L train which I'm guessing means you're closer to 14th Street - so you definitely should take the L all the way to 8th Avenue/14th Street and take the A up to 168th.

[analyticalkeys]

Well, since no one answered the question.. I don't think you're crazy. You live where you can, and if you like it great.. if you can handle that commute, then there's no problem at all. I actually take about a 45 minute - 1 hour commute to school everyday, so I know what that's like, and if you're really committed to what you're doing, then you won't think about the time at all.

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by dkaa

Hi everyone...

I am moving to NYC this summer to work at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital on West 168th street. However I couldn't find any affordable daycare near the hospital or in the upper west side. I did find one in the east village and my wife wants to live there.

1) Am I just crazy to do the commute everyday?
2) Is the L train to the A or 1 train the best bet and is the L train in the morning rush hour packed to the rim and a pain to wait for?
3) Would it be worth it for me to walk across town to west 4th street to take the A or 1 train up instead of waiting for the L?
4) Is there a better way that you recommend me going?
5) Hopstop says that the commute would take around an hour... is that really possible?

Thank you for any advice, it is very much appreciated.

Honestly there are much worse commutes in the city. You are still within Manhattan. I don't think its a bad commute. L to the A is fine. Your problem will mostly be the L. I find the L to be really inconsistent at times.

[schiphol]

Well, I attended Hunter College for a while and lived in Washington Heights and the East VIllage. The commute is annoying initially but you get used to it. The L to the A is your best bet as others have said. The only problem is getting on the L in the morning because it is so packed in the morning unless you're getting on at Union Square, then you are fine.

[Hamza]

What's the big deal?

Most people in NYC's commute is an hour? Mine is. Hour door-to-door is totally acceptable.

[UpsonDowns]

As others have said, the L will be INSANE if you try to get on during morning rush; it will be packed with folks coming from Williamsburg. However, if your hours are flexible, the A to the L is one of the easier commutes out there.