A daily 175 mile commute

By Justin Rocket Silverman, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | jsilverman@am-ny.com

December 17, 2007

Extreme Commuter Sean Granahan (Justin Rocket Silverman, amNewYork / December 16, 2007)

Some people meet their friends at the bar after work, but for Extreme Commuter Sean Granahan, his evening socializing is done on the three hour bus ride home.

"The bus becomes your home away from home," said Granahan, who commutes 175 miles each way between his house in Montrose, Pa. and a health clinic for homeless children and mothers in Long Island City.

His involvement with the Floating Hospital, the city's oldest not-for-profit pediatric clinic, began as pro bono legal work. Now he runs the center, and spends eight to nine hours getting there and back four days a week.

From Montrose he drives to Scranton, Pa., where he gets on a bus to Port Authority. Then it's a 7 Train ride to Queensboro Plaza and a walk to the clinic. "If the farmers around Montrose are taking their cows across the highway, I have to drive very slow, and usually don't get home until almost 10 p.m." Granahan said.

He has also learned how to best navigate the turn around for his return to work.

"I have to be out the door at 3:30 the next morning, so I just hang my clothes along the banister and get dressed as I walk down the stairs," Granahan said. Granahan believes the important work of bringing doctors, dentists and even mental health services to the poorest New Yorkers makes the countless commuting hours worthwhile. And chatting with fellow bus passengers is a great way to scout for future employees, he said.

"For months Sean had been talking about his hospital and all the good it does for the community," said Judy Popso, a fellow bus commuter. "One day on the bus he told me they were looking for a clinic director and I thought, wow, when can I start? ... I was hired two days later."

Know someone with a complicated, treacherous, or even just long commute? Tell us about them at jsilverman@am-ny.com