The Rock Hill/Charlotte commute: How that daily drive defines so much of our lives
Commuters, I see you.
I’ve lived the commuter’s life for the past 30 years. I live in Union County, N.C. And for more than two decades on most work days I drove to The Charlotte Observer’s uptown office. For the past seven years -- I can’t believe it’s been that long -- I’ve commuted to Rock Hill.
I know the lifestyle decisions a commuter makes. This is a region dominated by drivers. So I know the roads. I know about selecting a car that will withstand commuting. I know the car maintenance demands. I know about shopping for car insurance -- and any discount you can find.
I know the choices you make about where to live. If you’re single, you consider the proximity to fun and entertainment. If you have kids, you consider schools, proximity of medical care, and how much house you can afford?
You carefully calculate the impact gas prices can have on your mortgage.
I was buying the cheap gas in South Carolina before many commuters knew about the price difference.
I know about sitting in stand-still traffic and wondering “Why.” I have a love/hate relationship with sports talk radio (that’s another topic).
I’ve had cars quit on me along busy highways. I’ve gotten my share of speeding tickets. Enough said about that.
And did I tell you I know the roads?
While commuting to Charlotte, I’ve tried Independence Boulevard (U.S. 74), Providence Road, Idlewild Road (Secrest Shortcut Road in Union County), Central Avenue, and Monroe Road.
Charlotteans call it “Monroe Road”; People in Union County call it “Charlotte Highway.”
Those roads roughly run east-to-west and eventually land in, or near, Union County.
In commuting to Rock Hill, I use I-485 to I-77 to Dave Lyle Boulevard, or Cherry Road, depending on my destination.
I also know an alternate route. It’s a more serene drive, away from the crazy rush-hour traffic. The route takes you down Rocky River Road in Union County to NC/SC 75, which takes you through Waxhaw, and intersects with U.S. 521. Follow NC/SC 75 through Van Wyck to SC 5 and into Rock Hill.
I used that route for years when I dropped my daughter off for school and scrambled to get to work on time.
I hope I’ve proven that I’m a bona fide commuter?
We at The Herald will be writing in the coming month about commuting and the crucial decisions one makes when they choose that as a way of life.
We’re focused on a specific corridor.
I don’t have a simple descriptor for the area yet, but it spans Mecklenburg, York, Lancaster, Chester, Gaston and parts of Union counties. Think of it this way: From the southern edge of Charlotte city limits south through Rock Hill. The east-to-west expanse includes: Indian Land, Pineville, part of Ballantyne, Marvin and Waxhaw, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Lake Wylie and over to Gaston County.
Two main roads create a confluence of drivers every day in this region.
There is I-77, which runs north-south. And there’s U.S. 521, which runs east-west. Obviously there are other roads -- U.S. 49, S.C. 9, S.C. 5, S.C. 160 -- but if you commute, you will most likely spend time on I-77 or U.S. 521.
Recent Census information supports this premise. (Take a look at the interactive map on our home page today).
So The Herald will start a discussion about commuter life in this corridor.
We’d love to hear from you. What’s your funniest commuter story? What’s your most efficient shortcut? How do you safely spend your time in the car? Got any other helpful tips? What are your pet peeves?
Send ideas to me, Cliff Harrington, or to assignmentdesk@heraldonline.com.
I know you’re out there. I see you whiz past me. I slow down to let you merge. You’ve allowed me to merge. I’ve tried to be patient in bad weather (That’s a real challenge).
So over the next six weeks, come to heraldonline.com. That’s where we’ll first publish the stories. Then they’ll appear in the daily newspaper.
I’ll see you on the highway.
