A more sedentary approach to commuting is now more common than taking the bus or train to work, trailing only driving to work as the most common commute mode.
"The latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau published last week show that approximately 8 million workers primarily work from home," reports Mike Maciag. "That makes telework now second behind only driving as the most common means of getting to work, exceeding public transportation for the first time."
The share of commuters choosing telecommuting in the most recent American Community Survey has grown steadily, reaching 5.2 percent. Transit commuters remains flat at 5 percent.
According to Maciag, several factors are contributing to the growth of telecommuting, including employers programs and improvements in technology.
One key demographic distinction is worth mentioning to complicate the picture: "older workers are significantly more likely to telework than younger age groups."
Maciag lists more details about the data and also a few reasons why public transit's commute share has been suppressed in recent years.
FULL STORY: More Americans Now Telecommute Than Take Public Transportation to Work
New Commute Data: Telecommuting on the Rise
The news from the most recent American Community Survey data isn't entirely bad for advocates hoping that Americans will switch to more efficient, less impactful forms of commuting.
Report: D.C. Area Commuters Driving Alone Less
With all the bad news about plummeting ridership as the D.C. Metro transit system has struggled to deal with maintenance issues, a new report indicates that regional commuters are still driving alone less.
Travel Trends: Are They Changing?
Recently released travel data show Americans returning to their cars as the economic recovery deepens. Alternative forms of transportation are not attracting new users.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods
A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.
Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan
A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.
More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown
Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.
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.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions