Americans Driving Less

We’ve found another one of those slap-the-forehead stories about Americans driving less, mainly due to high gas prices. With 1 million more people on the road, there’s just a 0.3% rise in the number of miles driven so far this year, compared to an average 2.7% rate of growth from 1980 to 2005. The increase in drivers and the fewer miles simply mean people are driving less.

USAToday lists a number of factors besides high gas prices:

• More people are taking public transportation, more than they have in the past 49 years.
• Aging population. People over 55 years of age drive less.
• Today’s yuppies are moving to revitalized downtown areas throughout the country, cutting down on the need for commuting.

Drivers Cut Back — A 1st in 26 Years (USAToday.com)

Comments

I choose to live in a small town 30 miles from KC and commute in, because housing is too expensive in the city. But then again, I have to spend a lot on gas, so maybe it's not such a good idea.

M3,
the super commute (60 miles +) is also becoming more common so I'm not sure how long the trend in this article will last once the gas prices become more of an everyday occurrence.

Reasons why some people don't live in the city but the suburbs:
a) Higher crime rate in the city.(In general)
b) Smaller houses in the city.(In general)
c) MORE stop and go traffic in the city.
d) Higher auto insurance rate if live in the city.

a) Higher crime rate in the city.(In general)
Well, in general that's true.
b) Smaller houses in the city.(In general)
houses...? You mean, Apartments, right?
c) MORE stop and go traffic in the city.
Not neccessary. You WALK mostly :) So stop & go HUMAN traffic.
d) Higher auto insurance rate if live in the city.
If you ride a bike or walk, then the rate = 0.

OK , all joking aside, here's the real truth: we need better -WAY BETTER - better public transportation system. What's the point of having trains that travel to the suburbs once or twice per hour? And how 'bou better city planning, so that cooperations don't neccessary have to choose downtown as their offices? Instead have offices within the suburbs! If we can do that, then there's really no need for having so many cars on the roads any more.

I guess that can only be a dream in this country :(

Better yet, lets all try carpooling.. Too many vehicles with single passengers running around.

Interesting use of statistics. Slightly more cars on the road (by number--more total miles driven) and few new roads or expansion of existing roads, but fewer overall miles driven per person.

I really don't have the answer except to drive less and maybe botcott gasoline. Lots of people can not do that (jobs, etc) i'm 66 years old and retired. A lot of people have the affordability to buy gasoline withot thought. I am one of them. What we need is a leader, but who wants a leader? People need to listen to somebody for their own benefit. Bush & Cheney are a big joke! I'm sure they got in through illegal means. Ohio & Florida were the states that determined the winner. Jeb in Florida (the brother) and Taft in Ohio (good buddies). Need I say more? I'm certain that Bush, upon election smoked funny stuff. Have you ever heard him speak? Jay Leno made fun of the words that he used, made up his own words that did not make any sense. He is by far the worst president that we've had. I'm shocked he got re-elected. What about WMD? There were none! So what's with that? He should have been impeached at that very moment! Back to gas prices. TOO HIGH! GREED! You know what God says about greed. They will pay! What about the people that can not afford gasoline? Simple. Export their jobs to China. That will take care of their gasoline needs. Simple enough, huh?..............Carl123123

Another factor is increased telecommuting. A lot of people (including me) don't need to be in the office to do their jobs. Because of that my miles driven has gone way down, and we have only one car now instead of two. Saves time, money, and the environment.

Specifically to Amuro Ray--overall I agree with you. But on the encouraging suburban offices I have to differ. The problem with this is that there is no center. When people live in the suburbs and commute into a city center, public transportation routes can usually be made to make sense. But when people live all over the suburbs and their workplaces are scattered in the same way... I actually commute out of the city (Chicago) by public transportation and feel lucky to have the option. I find this to be much more common than people who both live and work in the suburbs and use public transport for their commute. Most can't, but most could if they worked in the city center. Still I know people who could but don't. Most say that their time is too valuable or it is too much of a hassle (and some used to say it was too expensive, but I think that is changing). To those who say their time is too valuable, I usually say that that is EXACTLY why I take the train. While the scedule may not always be optimal, at least my commuting time is mine and useful but if you are driving, that should be what is your priority. And as to the hassle issue, I just don't understand how it is more of a hassle to get to a train than to drive from the southeast suburbs to the northwest ones as many do.

Amuro,
Talking about public transportation, I can tell you right now, IT DOES NOT EXIST IN METRO DETROIT!
Yes, we have busses, which the closest one to my home is at least 4 miles away, good luck walking, biking or whatever-ing that distance in freezing winter.