Fewer Washington Area Commuters Are Driving Alone

According to the Commuter Connections program sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), a higher percentage of people in the Washington metro area are either taking public transportation to work or teleworking.

In the past ten years, the number of workers in the region driving alone to work has declined from 70% to 64%, while those who use transit one day a week has risen from 17% to 21%, and those who telework at least one day a week went from 3% to 6%.

The economy might have something to do with it since 18% of the people who started using alternative modes of transportation did so to save money.

Over 600,000 people describe themselves as teleworkers, which is more than twice the number from 2001. Another 500,000 “could and would” telework if given the opportunity, so the trend is likely to continue upward during the next decade.

A quarter of those surveyed said their commute was more difficult now than it was a year ago. 59% gave the reason as a more congested route.

Everyone is being asked to give an alternative method of transportation a try. Join Car Free Day on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. Montgomery County Commuter Services wants us all to join this worldwide movement to celebrate sustainable transportation so walk, bike, bus, rail, or telework.

As the City Staff reported in the Strategic Scan 2010, the majority of Rockville residents are close to public transportation so we can do it. Almost all of us are within a half mile of a bus or rail stop. We already do a slightly better job of using alternative means to work with 62% driving alone in a car, so plan to give Car Free Day a try.

Share and enjoy:

Hide Sites