What makes a commute enjoyable: A duration close to the ideal, or far below the maximum tolerable?

Many studies have found that commute duration negatively impacts commute satisfaction. However, the relationship of commute time with people’s ideal and maximum tolerable commute times, and how these affect commute satisfaction have not been explored in detail. In this study, using data from 2,378 students and staff members of University College London (UCL), I explore actual, ideal and tolerable commute times for various travel modes and analyse how the differences between actual commute time and i) ideal commute time and ii) maximum tolerable commute time influence commute satisfaction. Results show that travel times are considerably longer for public transport users (especially train users) than for active travellers, and that – partly as a result – public transport users’ commute durations are often considerably longer than the desired commute durations, and close to the maximum tolerable commute durations. For active travellers, on the other hand, commute durations are generally closer to the ideal durations than to the tolerable durations. Both the ideal and the maximum tolerable commute duration are strongly affected by the actual commute duration, suggesting that people adjust their ideal and tolerable commute time so they better match the actual commute time. Finally, results show that having a commute duration close to the ideal, or far below the maximum tolerable has a stronger impact on commute satisfaction than the actual commute time. Improving commute satisfaction by closing the gap between actual and ideal commute duration and increasing the difference between actual and maximum tolerable durations, could be realised by creating more compact, mixed use neighbourhoods where it is easy to walk and cycle and have low actual commute times. Additionally, results suggest that enhancing people’s travel attitudes can increase both ideal and maximum tolerable commute times, thereby bringing the actual and ideal commute time closer to each other.