Hispanic Immigrants Leading Carpool Resurgence

"Immigrants represented 16 percent of metro Atlanta's commuters but account for 29 percent of its carpoolers, according to 2005 estimates from the census' annual American Community Survey. The household survey of 3 million people includes legal and illegal immigrants."

"Atlanta's carpooling rate inched up less than one percent during the decade to nearly 11 percent. Any rise is remarkable considering that ride-sharing has steadily plummeted around most of the country for more than two decades, said Alan Pisarski, the study's author. Roughly one in five Americans carpooled in 1980, compared to one in nine now."

"Recent immigrants tend to carpool because of limited income and strong social networks. And for those in the country illegally, a Georgia driver's license is out of reach."