Following the pandemic in 2020, Westchester County’s commuter culture skyrocketed from its already astonishing records. Prior to this, Westchester had a large population of citizens commuting to New York City due to the Metro-North train. This means Rye Brook has an accessible and efficient commute right into grand central. Commuting to NYC for work was and continues to be a daily routine for many. Yet, the commuter culture in Rye Brook has undergone some dramatic changes.
The sudden and impactful Covid-19 pandemic forced working online to become the norm for those employed. This altered the commuting culture in Rye Brook leaving very few still commuting to work. Finding new routines and adjusting to this process was lengthy and stressful. While of course working at home was the safer option as a pandemic reached unfamiliar heights daily, it disrupted the daily commuting routine. However, many people found other ways to fill the time they used to spend commuting. Some found more time for family and new hobbies. This was a dramatic lifestyle shift for people around the world, let alone Rye Brook.
After the first and most threatening waves of Covid passed, the commuter culture underwent a rebirth. Schedules became “hybrid” meaning for most people, half of the work week was spent online and the other half was spent in the office. Rye Brook citizens typically worked two to three days a week in person, re-immersing in the world of human interaction. Commuting began to pick up again. The entire process was full of ups and downs for both the people commuting and the companies that helped commuting be easier for many years. Many companies downsized in office space and the Metro North train company faced many financial issues.
As we return to normal post-pandemic conditions, many people in Rye Brook have returned to regular commuting almost every day. Given the time that Metro North had during the pandemic they have updated their systems and made commuting extremely convenient.
While things may never return to the way they once were, many have returned to their daily commute to NYC. The pandemic sure left its mark on our community, however, making sure that citizens can have a safe, easy, and efficient commute is one of Rye Brook’s top priorities.