Coping With The Commute

There are an estimated 6.6 million commuters in Southern California, and a greater percentage of them are driving alone to work than ever before: 79% in 1993, compared to 77% last year. But drivers are cutting their travel distances and last year spent less time in their cars. Here are some of the findings of a recent survey. Primary mode of travel* Driving alone: 79% Car pool: 15% Bus: 3% Walk, van pool or bicycle: 1% Other: 2% *Survey was done before full implementation of the Metrolink and Metro Rail commuter network. Profile of a car pool: Car pools have an average of 2.6 members. A total of 43% car-poolers travel with household members and 40% with co-workers. Most car-poolers have been in their current pool for more than 2 1/2 years and travel an average of 16 miles to work. The average van pool has 8.8 members who have been in their pool an average of 21 months and travel an average distance of 23 miles to work. Average round-trip 1993 Distance: 29.6 miles Time: 69 minutes 1992 Distance: 33.2 miles Time: 76 minutes 1991 Distance: 33.2 miles Time: 71 minutes 1990 Distance: 32 miles Time: 72 minutes Stops along the way: A fifth of those interviewed say they stop on the way to work, 27% to take children to day care or school, and 19% to eat. On the way home, 29% stop, a third of them to buy groceries or do other shopping. Is freeway traffic getting worse? Since 1991, there has been a steady decline in the percentage of commuters who rate traffic as worse than it was a year earlier. Of those surveyed, 20% consider freeway traffic during their commutes to be always good. 1993--19% better, 32% same, 49% worse 1992--12% better, 33% same, 55% worse 1991--11% better, 25% same, 64% worse How the counties compare Los Angeles Drive alone: 76% Average round-trip commute: 26.6 miles Average commuting time: 69 minutes Work outside county: 10% Orange Drive alone: 86% Average round-trip commute: 28 miles Average commuting time: 63 miles Work outside county: 24% Riverside Drive alone: 85% Average round-trip commute: 45.6 miles Average commuting time: 80 minutes Work outside county: 31% San Bernardino Drive alone: 80% Average round-trip commute: 40 miles Average commuting time: 75 minutes Work outside county: 37% Ventura Drive alone: 82% Average round-trip commute: 30.8 miles Average commuting time: 56 minutes Work outside county: 26% One in three respondents changed residence within the last two years. Of these, one in four cited commute-related reasons, compared to one in 10 in 1992. Source: “The 1993 State of the Commute,” Commuter Transportation Services, based on a telephone survey of 2,591 commuters in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.