[Stylo]

I'm not personally seeing traffic increase. It's been pretty reasonable lately, other than a few days with accidents.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

I wonder how many years ago it took Lintu that long. I think it was much worse before the recession started and there became less commuters on the roads (though I think it's starting to get worse again).

Going from exit 9 Stamford to New Rochelle area around 3:30pm today, got stuck in yet another accident on I-95 between Greenwich and Stamford, this time between exits 5 and 6 (that was going southbound, northbound looked like a parking lot not only where I got on, but all the way down to Pt. Chester).

Funny that Cambium mentioned yet another truck incident, got stuck in that at the end of my trip (darn rubberneckers!) as it started backing up at exit 20 on the Hutch.

I commuted until April 2010, so not that long ago. There were definitely days I could get to work in 35 minutes, but it was not unusual to take 45 and much worse if it were merely drizzling. (My house is closer to 95 than the Merritt, as was the office).

[Capital Guy]

Oh god, you mean it used to be worse than this?!

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by Lintu

I commuted until April 2010, so not that long ago. There were definitely days I could get to work in 35 minutes, but it was not unusual to take 45 and much worse if it were merely drizzling. (My house is closer to 95 than the Merritt, as was the office).

Yes, when it rains (even a little), I've noticed that does make a difference too, good point!

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

Yes, when it rains (even a little), I've noticed that does make a difference too, good point!

Or when there's a rumor of rain, or when someone on the road makes the American Sign Language sign for "rain," or when someone washes their windshield and a few drops get on a neighboring car, or when there's a picture of a reindeer on a billboard...

[Stylo]

Do you drive slower? I'll say I haven't been on 95 in the morning for a long time. The Merritt to Westport is usually really easy, and there's always a backroad route to skip traffic. If it takes me 45 minutes or longer, something is very, very wrong.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Do you drive slower? I'll say I haven't been on 95 in the morning for a long time. The Merritt to Westport is usually really easy, and there's always a backroad route to skip traffic. If it takes me 45 minutes or longer, something is very, very wrong.

No, I'm not a particularly slow driver, but there's usually that much traffic. The office I telecommute to is off exit 40b from the Merritt, and when I go there in person from exit 51, it takes at least 45 min in traffic. It's usually packed with cars the whole way, so I don't even have the choice to go fast.

(Part of that 45 min is not on the highway...I'm thinking door to door).

And when I commuted from exit 32 on 95 to exit 18, I would go 70 or so until exit 26 or 27, and that's when it would go slow all the way to exit 18. Sometimes it was worth it to get off at exit 19 and take back roads, but that was more for sanity than time savings.

[Stylo]

Hmm, maybe it depends on what time you leave. I usually leave at 8:45 and get to work at 9:15. I get off at Exit 42.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Hmm, maybe it depends on what time you leave. I usually leave at 8:45 and get to work at 9:15. I get off at Exit 42.

Ah yeah, I used to leave around 7:45 to try to get in around 8:30.

[Tin Knocker]

Its a compound problem. First theres too many cars for the infrastructure and the reality is there is noplace to put the required lanes, number two is people dont pay attention, theres too much going on in most peoples lives for them to "waste time" focusing on something mundane like driving. Its not quite like walking down the sidewalk, the idea that people think they can drive 70 mph safely while talking on the phone, texting, putting on makeup, shaving, toying with a GPS etc is absurd. Even hands free. People will say they can do it & most times everythings ok... until theres an accident. Its another of those "just because you can doesn't mean you should" things.