Commuting
Transit Use is Growing, But Not Where You Think
Transit saw some big ridership increases over the past few years, but maybe not where you'd expect. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the top ten metropolitan areas where transit use has increased the most.
Alternative Fuels Won't Change the Expense of Driving
One of the conclusions of a new study in the San Francisco Bay Area is that switching to electric and alternative fuel cars won't reduce the burden on households because ownership is the most significant expense. Thus, density is the only way out.
Streetsblog San Francisco
Cities With the Shortest Commutes
U.S. News and World Report selects "15 Cities for People Who Hate Driving and Long Commutes," choosing the cities with shorter than average commuting times and high percentages of non-auto commuters.
U.S. News And World Report
Drive A Hot Rod, Save The Planet
How can a Porsche be better for the environment than a Prius? If you use transit to commute, and only take the hot rod out on the weekends. Slate writer Joe Eaton sold his Volvo for a combination of transit and fun.
Slate
Discounts for Off-Peak Riders?
NY MTA Head Jay Walder is considering lowering fares for off-peak hours riders in order to encourage people to change their habits.
Streetsblog
Residents of Landmark TOD Still Driving
While more residents walk or bike for nonwork trips, Orenco Station residents are still driving to work at a rate comparable to other area suburbs.
The Oregonian
More Solo Drivers in the South, Northeast
Richard Florida takes a look at a recent report showing connecting solo commuters with location and comes up with an interesting demographic breakdown.
Atlantic Monthly
Quality vs. Time in Transportation
Alex Marshall points out the fallacy of creating transportation policy based solely on figures like miles traveled per hour, average commuting times, and cost per passenger. Quality of the time spent commuting is rarely taken into account.
Governing Magazine
L.A. is Number One in Traffic Delays, Says Study
As part of a larger series, NY Times guest blogger Eric A Morris talks about traffic in LA, and how the city's structure affects ease of transportation.
Freakonomics - NY Times Blog
The 10 Best Commutes
Density gives cities an edge, according to this study of commutes around the world. Hong Kong, Osaka, and Berlin all rank highly.
MSNBC
Bailout Gives Tax Break to Bicycle Commuters
The $700 billion bailout bill includes federal tax benefits for people who commute by bike.
The San Francisco Chronicle
Extreme Commuting: A 23-Mile Run
Gas prices are driving a select few die-hards to trade in their cars for running shoes.
Wall St. Journal
Baseball Stars Commute By Bike
At last count, the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse includes six regular bike commuters including up-and-coming pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.
The Baltimore Sun
Friday Funny: Monkey Headed Southbound
Commuters on Ireland's N11 expressway were surprised to find that the cause of a massive traffic jam was a monkey on the loose.
The Irish Times
Commute Costs Changes Growth Patterns in D.C.
Suburban growth in the DC area has been fueled by low gas prices and abundant freeways. Expensive gas has changed this growth paradigm as commuters shift to public transit and seek close-in homes. Will government respond to the change in the market?
The Washington Post
The City-Suburb Commute is Not What it Used to Be
Wendell Cox looks at commuting patterns, and finds that the old supposition that most commuters are going from suburban housing to urban jobs no longer holds water.
newgeography
Employers Going Beyond Requirements for Commute Alternatives
Employers in the Seattle area are outpacing City Hall in providing incentives to employees not to drive to work in single occupancy cars. A state law even requires companies with 100 or more commuters to provide alternative commuting plans.
The Seattle Times
Bike Buddies Turn Commute Into Workout
T.J. Kelly was finding it difficult to squeeze in exercise, and looking at his rising commute costs. A new co-worker helped him turn his commute into a workout.
Wall St. Journal
The Flight Back from the Burbs
Bay Area tech companies are increasingly opening offices in downtown San Francisco, a significant change from the development pattern of the last ten years.
BusinessWeek
More Phoenix Commuters Pedaling
Bicycle commuting is on the rise in metropolitan Phoenix, where bike shops are reporting increasing sales of commuter bikes.
The Arizona Republic

















