Not everyone is stuck behind the wheel on the way to the office. Some might take the train, or a bus. Others still might bike to work or even walk.

So, when we asked our readers what they did during their commutes, we got a lot of answers from folks taking their trip into their own hands, along with more from those who went the public transit route. Read on for some highlights.

Maria Matthews

Grassroots Programs/Government Relations, American Society of Civil Engineers

On days I Metro to and from work, I like to clean out email on my phone. I save up a day or two of newsletters and other helpful reads that I can’t get to during the workday. On the occasion I drive to work, I love to listen to NPR. While I love listening to the news, I really enjoy their topical stories on odd items I might not otherwise encounter.

Kim Johnston

Director of Membership, Affiliate Relations and Governance, National Association for College Admission Counseling

I have about a 45-minute commute that’s a combination of walking, Metro, and occasionally  bus. I have an active Audible subscription, and I look forward to listening to audiobooks every day. I almost always listen to novels or short stories, but occasionally I enjoy a biography.

Sarah Beacock

CEO, Nuclear Institute

I have a 40-minute train ride into central London when I like to read a good book (currently The Overstory by Richard Powers) or catch up on a box set on my phone. Sometimes I even get some work-related reading done!

Sarah Lawler

Assistant Director of Marketing, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine

My new hourlong commute on Metro gives me time to scan my work email and delete the messages I know I don’t need, read the ASAE community digests, and I just started to listen to podcasts for the first time.

Felicia Owens

Governance Manager, Society of American Archivists

I ride the train (CTA in Chicago) about 40 minutes each way, and my favorite pastime is knitting! I’ll put on a podcast or some music and knit along on my current project (recently, socks). It is incredibly relaxing, both to start my day on the right note and to melt away the flurry of work before I get home.

Serenity Greenfield

Head of Content, Membership, and Marketing, Exponent Philanthropy

I take the train and bus to get to the city. As a busy mom, I use the downtime to sleep or catch up with my neighbors. It’s a great time to unplug, look around, have a face-to-face conversation, or take a short snooze.

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