Time or distance?

Chris' comment about his commute made me think of this. When you describe where a place is to someone, do you tell them, "It's about 5 miles" or "It's about 15 minutes"? We tend to use time because sometimes going a mile can take 10 minutes.

If they are walking or driving, then I will tell them how far the location is in distance (miles or klicks). That generally gives people a sense of how long it's going to take (depending on route, traffic conditions, etc).

If they are taking a plane, train, bus or subway, then I'll just tell them how long it will take them. If figured that if someone isn't actually controlling the vehicle, then they don't care how "far" a location is, only how long the ride is.

Usually time because people tend to not know what a mile is.

CatEyes10736 wrote:Usually time because people tend to not know what a mile is.

Really? That's sad!

I have to give directions at work fairly often and I say it in miles. But if I know that they stand little chance to reaching their destination on time then I will give them the timeframe.

Depends on if you're driving, walking or taking public transportation. For driving, I usually say it in miles....but if I know there is traffic or other factors, then I tell them about what time they should get there. The other two, I do in time.

I tend to do both. I'll say it's such and such miles, and give an approx. time it should take them to get there.

I tend to do both, too, unless we're talking short distances like someone asking how far away I am from a grocery store. I can easily walk there so I do that, rather than try and figure out the distance.

Distance. I never really bother seeing how long it takes us to get somewhere.

Time depends on so many different things so usually distance.

Marc™ wrote:I tend to do both. I'll say it's such and such miles, and give an approx. time it should take them to get there.

same here.. i do both... I give out directions almost everyday because of where i work.

I use time for most, especially in the city driving. If it is a long drive, I will use miles, and normally add the time if I know it from having traveled it.