Actually Faster or Feels Faster
 

So to get out of my hood to a certain road I have two route options.

Both routes converge at the same intersection.

Route A requires me to go a half mile south then west a bit then a half mile+ back north.

Route B is west for 1/3rd mile then 3/4's a mile or so south.

Route B is a shorter distance but A is faster because the speed limits are higher.

We are not talking a whole lot of time, minute or two kind of difference.

My wife and I got into a discussion yesterday when she told me to go route A and I commented "I hate this way, it feels longer" she responded "but it's faster" to which I half heartedly agreed yes it is but it FEELS longer and of course she replied "it's faster"

We went around in circles on that for a bit me getting a bit frustrated that she was not getting what I was saying and I think she shared some frustration for the same reason from her side.

So the question, which route do you take? The one that is actually faster or the one that feels faster.?

I have the same sort of thing going to work. I can take the road that my business is on and go straight to my house with a 1 mile turn a the end. Usually 25 minutes. Or I can go a couple of minutes to a highway and get there in 20 minutes.
It depends on the mood I'm in. Sometimes I like the slow/casual route as I'm in no hurry to get home and don't need the stress of driving 80 mph.

Same here. My wife has a one minute faster route.
I take the slow way. The fast route is a busy narrow two lane road, blind corners, lots of potholes, and not fun to drive. Mine is smooth, boring, and mindless- but not stressful. My way feels faster, but isn't.

Trick question. You take the one your wife wants, because that one is quieter too!

"Happiness is the journey, not the destination." - Buddha

LOL ... This! ....and I don't have anything else to add!

Me.... prolly the "back roads" instead of "the fastest" .... unless .... I got married :D.

I choose whichever one I enjoy more. When I travel to the town to the NW of me, I can go via the main roads which are very much faster or, I can take a back road route over the top of a hill that is a rough surface but goes thru deep woods and is very much slower. I like the deep woods route.

As above it depends upon my priorities. I usually measure routes for elapsed time. As a result I can reliably give an accurate ETA while still a couple of hours from home. For example there are three routes to get my granddaughter to dance class. They vary from 22 to 26 minutes. I will often take one of the longer ones on the way there (time permitting), but invariably take the quickest one home. One of the longer ones used to be a favorite back in my motorcycling days. (Sort of a mini Dragon's Tail). Some days it is just too much to resist. :D
"Feels longer " doesn't really register with my poor brain. If I can measure it, that is my go to.

Best
Les

If it's a drive I make every day? I'd probably alternate or switch randomly...just to alter the routine a bit.

Depends upon the specifics of both routes.

If there's a route that's short, but full of traffic and stops, and then there's another longer, faster route with fewer stops, and probably steadier speeds, then I'm likely to take the steadier, longer route with fewer stops. It may not be much faster if at all, but it'll be less frustrating and stressful.

That's the key. Less stress is potentially worth a bit of time.

We had this same conversation the other day.
I like to go the way that avoids the part of the city where the demographics are such that most of the population didn't grow up driving cars. My way is longer, albeit sometimes, but not always, faster. The less stressful path is the one I like to take.

Oklahoma was laid out in a one square mile grid, much like a chess board. There is one trip I made to a service provider for my business. It is pretty much south west, and I can chose a north south or a east west road and it is pretty much the same distance. Some roads are more crowded with traffic, but the roads are better, and 4 lane. Some have red lights, and some are just 4 way stops. Some go over the original Rt66, some are very wooded, and hilly and very pretty, some more industrial. I mix it up all the time, and unless I am in rush hour, it is pretty much the same time, only the view is different.

There is not one curve, all just straight roads.

Take whichever way you want JUST STAY OUT OF THE LEFT LANE!

I just turn on Waze and follow the directions. Time matters, not perceived time.

Somewhat, sometimes

Me-Almost all highway and clear other than rush hour. Two stoplights and a stop sign. Yawn.

Her-Go through town past major areas. 4 stoplights, a dozen stop signs, several u-turns onto fast stretches with little visibility, hills, and narrow roads icy in the winter.

As long as I'm moving, that's the one that feels faster.

I know all the pinchpoints, and I'll take the longer route if it's the one that is most likely to move while the other is stop and go.

I had that too.

I said to GF that it's not a race. No breaking road rules and to just drive as you normally would so she went one route and I went the other.

Yep, one was faster and easier, although it was slightly more distance.

Yep, moving steadily is better than sitting, at least up to a point. If 30 mins turns into 45 mins because I went WAY out of my way, then I'll probably stick with 30 mins (and hate it the whole time).