Why Your Suburb Might Be Stealing a Week of Your Life Every Year

How much of your life disappears between home and work? 

A commute of 45 minutes each way may feel like a small daily inconvenience, but across a working year it can consume hundreds of hours.  

That is time we can’t spend with family, exercising, resting or doing the things that make life enjoyable. 

The way we commute has changed over the years.  

Hybrid work has given many Australians more control over where they work, yet our population has continued to spread into outer suburbs where housing may be more affordable and daily destinations are often much further away. 

So today we look at commuting through a different lens. Instead of focusing only on kilometres travelled or minutes saved, we will ask how cities can be designed to give people more control over their time, and whether travel itself can become more useful, healthier and even more enjoyable. 

By the end of this episode, you will understand why the 20-minute neighbourhood matters, where cycling and public transport fit, how hybrid work is reshaping demand, and what all this means for governments, businesses and property investors. 

In this episode, I speak with Simon Kuestenmacher about how commuting patterns shape Australian cities, daily life and property values. 

We examine how long trips to work take time away from family, exercise and rest, and why hybrid work only partly eases the pressure. 

Simon unpacks the 20-minute neighbourhood, where residents can reach everyday needs on foot, by bike or public transport. 

We consider why cycling and e-bikes can be practical alternatives for short journeys, while scooters may not replace car trips as often. 

For property investors, we explore why walkability, transport access and local amenities may strengthen the appeal of established middle-ring suburbs. 

Takeaways   

• Long commutes leave less time for family and rest
• Hybrid work cuts some trips, not car dependence
• Local services make daily errands easier without driving
• Mixed-use neighbourhoods bring homes closer to amenities
• Low-density suburbs require more extensive infrastructure
• E-bikes make longer cycling trips more accessible
• Cycling can combine transport with everyday exercise
• Scooter benefits depend on replacing car journeys
• Public transport can provide a transition between work and home
• Walkable middle-ring suburbs may appeal to property investors

About Simon Kuestenmacher  

Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group. 

Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.    

He ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can’t get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels. 

Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others. 

About Michael Yardney 

Michael Yardney – founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders. 

While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia’s leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation. 

Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation. 

Follow Michael on LinkedIn or Instagram 

Are you interested in property investment – let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth – producing results. 

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast, Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast. Just look for it wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future. Or click here.