Posted on 04/13/2006 2:39:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Dave Givens knew a seven-hour roundtrip commute to and from Mariposa to Cisco's San Jose headquarters wasn't normal, but he didn't think it exceptionally unusual. Then Midas called.
The auto repair firm this week handed Givens its "America's Longest Commute" award for his daily 372 mile trek. Givens had entered the contest on a coworker's suggestion and never expected to win. Now, the electrical engineer is giving the massive commute a rethink.
"I was thinking that a few people would have a commute like this," he told us. "I really didn't think I had the longest one.
"I am totally stoked about winning. But, on the other hand, it is really pointing out to me that it's quite the dubious award. It makes you wonder if this is right lifestyle."
Givens, however, has no plans to change his routine any time soon after running the same route since 1989.
With his family still sleeping, Givens heads out the door at around 4:30 a.m. from a horse ranch at the edge of the astonishing Yosemite National Park. On a good day, he can make the 186-mile trip to Cisco's sprawling offices in less than three hours.
It takes about nine cups of coffee, XM satellite radio and audio books to make the drive tolerable.
Givens then usually arrives home at around 8 or 8:30 p.m. This drive home through thicker traffic can take up to five hours some days.
The glorious Yosemite country and horses make the commute worth the effort to Givens who pounds more than 30 cups of coffee by the end of the day.
"I could live a bit closer, but it would cost more and wouldn't be anywhere near as scenic," he said.
As a winner of the award, Givens receives $10,000 in gas money and maintenance services from Midas. He beat out a 175-mile one-way Chicago man and a 164-mile North Carolina lass. Contestants had to provide the most direct route from their main residence to the office.
I really hate getting stuck with traffic lights. It adds 2 minutes onto my five minute commute.
You would think with 30 cups of coffee a day, the guy has to be spending his whole day drinking and peeing. I doubt he can make the trip without one bathroom break.
I'd like to know what brand of car this guy drives, so I can buy stock. He probably has to get a new vehicle every year.
372 miles X 5 days a week X 50 weeks a year = 93,000 miles per year.
Well. My new job involves a two-stoplight, one-mile commute; if traffic is light I can make it to work in about 140 seconds (both stoplights are right turns). Heavy traffic gets the time up near four minutes.
What a fool.
If he really wants to live where he lives and work where he works, he should buy an old cessna and cut about 4+ hours from his commute time every day.
Let's see, 50 weeks x 20 hours a week saved = 1000 hours more time a year he'd have with his family.
Either he must hate his family or he's an idiot.
Yes, he could. This kind of living arrangement is common from what I see. Usually, in situations like this, the worker will spring $500 per month to rent a room to stay at 3 or 4 nights a week. This guy is an idiot.
An old fashioned wooden crate of empty coke bottles would do the trick. Of course, car pooling might be out of the question.
Can't dudes just pee in a bottle and keep driving?
That took THREE years to figure out? LOL!
I used to have a job where my job commute consisted of literally 2 steps from the bed to the desk..
Geez....
That's unbelievable!
I hear ya! But in my case, no family to worry about. Made it much easier.
Oh, my goodness!
You should see a shrink ASAP...or move to the South.
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