Why is "evening" rush hour so much worse than morning? (Seattle: sales, homes)

[davoli123]

I've never understood this. I drive to work at 6:15am every morning, work a standard business day and then drive home. How come the roads are busy with commuters only on my return trip? Do a lot of Seattleites only work half days?

[Sockeye66]

It's been some time since I had a significant commute, when I did I travelled Southside to Ballard. If I left at 7:15 or earlier the roads were clear, traffic would thicken from a 7:20 or later start.

The return was everything heavy from 3:30 on.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by davoli123

I've never understood this. I drive to work at 6:15am every morning, work a standard business day and then drive home. How come the roads are busy with commuters only on my return trip? Do a lot of Seattleites only work half days?

Yeah, you are coming in at a good time (good on you for that). Anytime after 3PM gets tougher, people just leave early to avoid traffic. That includes people like you who have finished their day and many people who have flexible work situations, go home and do 2-3 hours of work at home.

[pnwguy2]

I would also guess in the afternoon there are more errands, shopping, etc that have little to do with commuting to and from work.

[CharlesRamon]

Traffic also seems to get heavier as the week progresses from Monday to Friday, which I always thought was weird.

[Kayela]

Lots of deliveries and commercial traffic in the afternoon that you won't see at 6:15 am. I've noticed that I used to never get deliveries much after 4 or 5, and now I regularly get them between 6-8 pm. Lots of people going to and from jobsites, sales people visiting customers, the list goes on...

[GraceKrispy]

6:15 is before most rush hour traffic, ime. So you're not really hitting the local rush hour at that time. I've noted morning rush hour to be more intense 7:30-8:30. Evening rush hour seems to start at 3:30 and last until 6:30, however. Go figure.

[Hemlock140]

I work 6am-2:30PM and yes, it's far worse in the afternoon even when I am headed home. There are many good reasons:



1. High school and college kids getting home mixed in with commuters
2. People like me that leave earlier in the afternoon
3. Retired people going shopping that were not up in the morning
4. Delivery and service people on the job that don't start early
5. Sun in people's eyes, and they are not used to it

[davoli123]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Yeah, you are coming in at a good time (good on you for that). Anytime after 3PM gets tougher, people just leave early to avoid traffic. That includes people like you who have finished their day and many people who have flexible work situations, go home and do 2-3 hours of work at home.

I sure wish I had that luxury.

Originally Posted by CharlesRamon

Traffic also seems to get heavier as the week progresses from Monday to Friday, which I always thought was weird.

Right??? Why is Thursday so heavy especially? I just don't understand how so many people are getting away with half days. I guess they're making good money.

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

3. Retired people going shopping that were not up in the morning -- I do not approve of this.
5. Sun in people's eyes, and they are not used to it -- They're called sunglasses people!

[Gaylord_Focker]

I wfh