Remote Workers: The New Supercommuters

Workers who moved away from their jobs during the pandemic are adjusting to longer commutes as employers start asking them to return to the office.

1 minute read

December 29, 2021, 11:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Regional Transit

Sundry Photography / Shutterstock

While the pandemic allowed many Americans to relocate while they worked from home and eliminate their commutes altogether, the halting return to the office, at least part-time, has created "a new class of supercommuters." Sarah Holder describes the workers who, after 'untethering' themselves from cities and job centers, now find themselves having to make the extra-long trek to work at least a few times a month. 

Defined by a 90-minute one-way trip to work, supercommuting grew by 45 percent between 2000 and 2019 as rising housing costs and exurban sprawl have driven more people farther away from their jobs. According to Chris Salviati, senior housing economist at Apartment List, "There might actually be a lot of folks ending up in situations where now—because they’re not commuting every day—they’re willing to endure a longer commute." Some are taking to the air, with commercial commuter air travel services like Surf Air seeing sharp increases in traffic. The airline, which specializes in flights between Lake Tahoe and the San Francisco Bay Area, has seen a 33 percent monthly rise in flights. 

For some, the new arrangement provides an opportunity to move in with long-distance partners, buy a home, or spend time with family—priorities employers will likely have to weigh as they develop the hybrid work models of the future. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 in Bloomberg CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

5 seconds ago - Cities Today

View from inside car's driver seat while driving.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians

Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

1 hour ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

July 10 - The Markup

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA