A recent study by the US Census Bureau provides a revealing insight into how people get to work – and how long it takes them.
Unsurprisingly, the report shows that the most popular method of commuting in the U.S. is by car – 86% – with an average journey time of 25 minutes – a 10% increase since 1990.
Commute times vary substantially depending on community:
- New York City is the home of the countries longest average daily commute, with residents in the metropolitan area spending an average of 34.6 minutes travelling to and from work.
- Workers heading into Washington DC don’t fare much better with an average 33.4 minute journey.
- At the other end of the scale, residents of Great Falls, Montana, you can expect to get to the office in a little over 14 minutes
What makes an ‘average’ commute?
If only the journey to and from the office was always 25 minutes. The truth is that no matter how regular the commute, or where you live, daily conditions can vary. We assume that the 25 minute national average is based on minimal road works, fair weather and constant traffic flow. Of course the reality is that unexpected delays can occur on any day of the week – usually when you are running late in the first place or need to be somewhere early.
Intriguingly, according to the report it seems that the average commute time for men is longer than women – 22 minutes for the ladies vs 25 for the guys. We aren’t quite sure how to explain that one, although we speculate whether it’s evidence of ‘more haste less speed’ caused by the constant lane-changing and tail gating favored by certain male drivers.
Here at CoPilot, we want to get you there on time – every time, making your trip to and from work more enjoyable and less stressful. So that’s where CoPilot Live ActiveTraffic can come in handy. Currently on sale for 10% off, it helps you beat the traffic by checking real-time road speeds, and finding the fastest route each day.
How long is your commute? Tell us here in the comments andwe’ll enter you into our weekly draw to win a copy of CoPilot Live Premium.
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2 Comments
By car my commute is, 45 minutes to do 11 miles. The same route by motorcycle is just 25 minutes – because of access to bus lanes. If the weather isn’t wet or icy I commute by motorcycle.
My 95 mile commute to the office takes me 110 minutes in the morning (leaving home at 5am) and 120-150 minutes in the evening (leaving work at 4pm). My commute takes me on the M11, A1/A1M, M25 and M40.