Readers respond: Oregonians split on daylight savings

In an unofficial survey, Your Oregon News asked readers whether they prefer springing forward and falling back, permanent daylight savings time, or permanent standard time.

This comes after a bill that would put Oregon on permanent standard time survives a Senate split vote .

Out of nearly 650 responses, Your Oregon News readers responded that 43.7% would prefer permanent daylight savings time; while 43.4% would prefer permanent standard time. Another 14.4% of readers said they like springing forward and falling back twice a year.

Some readers responded saying any permanent time would be better than switching it up in the spring and fall. Others say they would prefer more light in the mornings for schoolchildren’s commutes, while some prefer more light in the evenings for work commutes, chores and activities.

Here’s what Your Oregon News readers have to say about the twice-annual time change:

Reader: “I prefer either staying on standard time or staying on daylight time—going back and forth is annoying. But, I prefer longer daylight in the evenings for mood and efficiency of getting things done.”

Reader: “Having visited Hawaii and Arizona, it's actually nice to wake up to sun in the morning and be able to relax earlier in the summer, especially when work dictates an early rise.”

Reader: “The more daylight the better. With standard time we don't get as much daylight in the winter and fall months, we would with daylight savings time.”

Reader: “I really like the longer daylight in the evenings, especially when I had a regular day job. However, in mid winter DST got the kids out standing in the dark waiting for a school bus for too long. Changing clocks twice a year is such a minor inconvenience for the "extra" longer daylight in th evenings.”

Reader: “The absolute worst decision would be to do a permanent standard time. No one likes early darkness, summer or winter.”

Reader: “I hate the switching back and forth. They need to just pick one.”

Reader: “Science tells us that permanent standard time is much better for our bodies. Daylight savings time is not the way to go.”

Reader: “I enjoy longer daylight during late afternoons in winter that we would get if on daylight savings time year round.”

Reader: “I like the days longer in summer.”

Reader: “It’s ridiculous to still change the clocks.”

Reader: “I’d prefer longer light in the evenings.”

Reader: “I don't care which one we standardize, just quit switching twice every year.”

Reader: “I like the long summer evenings and falling back gives more light in the mornings when children are going to school, which makes it safer for them.”

Reader: “Our family would prefer to have more daylight in the evenings all year long.”

Reader: “I like how late it stays light in the summer, and would love it to stay light later in the fall and winter as well. Getting up early in the morning is hard no matter what, but having to work until it's dark outside is never fun. Switching to permanent standard time would be the worst of the 3 options.”

Reader: “Daylight savings is no longer relevant . As a teacher of high school students and a mom of elementary and middle school students it is incredibly disruptive and not conducive to the best learning.”

Reader: “Permanent time would give a bit of consistency in a very inconsistent world.”

Reader: “I truly don’t think this is where we should be focusing our legislative time, or any time. Every state should, or should not. States shouldn’t be given the ability to choose (I know some states already have). When I lived in Arizona, it was such an headache to keep track of being one hour off from everyone else half the year. Also, I will go mad if the sun rises at 4:30am, so if we all have to change, let’s go DST.”

Reader: “Standard time just make more sense. Let’s stop messing with the clocks.”

Reader: “At least this can happen, and based on articles it is favored by science.”

Reader: “I would prefer extra daylight in the evening in order to be more active outdoors.”

Reader: “It’s too dark in the morning if you stay on daylight savings time.”

Reader: “Sunrise in summer would be too early with standard time. Light in afternoon/evening preferable in winter.”

Reader: “I like the long light in the summer and it's annoying going back and forth.”

Reader: “It is more important to have light earlier in the morning to get people wake for school and work than it is to have light at night after school and work.”

Reader: “Get up later and stay up later. I like the longer evenings. Early sunrise is not quite as early. I'm an evening person.”

Reader: “Daylight savings time is the more accurate time. I absolutely hate it being dark at 4:15, 4:30 in the winter.”

Reader: “I hate changing time.”