10 minutes from X

[Josquius]

I've just remembered a conversation I heard a few nights ago.
I was at a pub in the centre of the city.
One girl said that she lived 10 minutes away, her friend ooed and aahhed, she had no idea that the first girl lived in such an awesome place, could she crash at her place so she didn't have to worry about the last train?
The first girl was confused. She also had a last train to catch.
Mis-communication, the first girl had meant by train, the second assumed she meant by foot.

I've noticed this elsewhere too.
When I say X minutes away I mean by foot. But when some people at work say it they mean by car.

Assuming no qualifier to make specific that walking/driving/whatever is meant, what do you assume someone means when they say X is 10 minutes away?

[celedhring]

Just getting on your car/parking or waiting for the bus/train would eat a large chunk of those 10 minutes, so I'd assume walking distance.

[Eddie Teach]

10 minutes drive.

[frunk]

I don't typically make an assumption, I'd expect it to be "10 minutes from X by Y".  If the phrase isn't added and the statement isn't clear from context I'd clarify.

[The Brain]

I assume that it takes 10 minutes to get to X, by rational means of transportation.

[garbon]

I don't typically make an assumption, I'd expect it to be "10 minutes from X by Y".  If the phrase isn't added and the statement isn't clear from context I'd clarify.

Yep.

[Josquius]

There is no opportunity for clarification. You hear somebody say it on a voice mail and you can't get in contact with them to confirm. Just what would your sub-conscious snap assumption be.

[garbon]

There is no opportunity for clarification. You hear somebody say it on a voice mail and you can't get in contact with them to confirm. Just what would your sub-conscious snap assumption be.

I'd ignore what they said and look up the place on google. Only other change would be if I was in the suburbs, I'd assume 10 minutes by car as only trifling people would be using that to discuss walking distance. In the city with trains, cab and walking - too close to tell.

[alfred russel]

If there is no qualification, I'd assume the fastest means of reasonable transportation.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't typically make an assumption, I'd expect it to be "10 minutes from X by Y".  If the phrase isn't added and the statement isn't clear from context I'd clarify.

Yep.

Yep yep.  Totally context dependent.

[Grey Fox]

It's context dependent but I would hear 10 minutes drive in non-rush-hour traffic.

[Barrister]

10 minute drive is the default.

Any other means of traffic would be odd, so it would be specified.

[Eddie Teach]

Maybe it takes 10 minutes to get the teleporter warmed up. 

[jimmy olsen]

In Korea, ten minutes on foot. In America, ten minutes drive through normal traffic.

[Valmy]

In Texas if somebody says something is 'five minutes away' the assumption is they mean 5 minutes away by car.