Top 10 cities with the best commutes
Would a faster, cheaper or greener commute entice workers back to the office?
Long commutes have become a major sticking point in the discussion surrounding employees returning to the office full-time or on a hybrid schedule in the wake of the pandemic. So would a better commute entice more employees back to the office?
Employees are most concerned about how long their commute takes and how much it costs, according to a Lyft survey of 1,400 commuters. Lyft analyzed millions of rides in its system to discover where people experienced the shortest, cheapest and greenest commutes in 35 cities with populations over 500,000. It also figured in the vibrancy of the city as a factor in making traveling worthwhile.
Considering all four measures, the very best city is Columbus, Ohio, due to its speedy, cheap commute to a booming downtown. Columbus offers the shortest traveling in the country at an average of just 22 minutes during rush hour traffic, compared with the national average of 25 minutes. That translates to a savings of 13 hours not spent commuting over a year. Other cities where it was quick were Las Vegas at 25.6 minutes, Memphis at 22 minutes, Fresno, California, at 22.9 minutes and El Paso, Texas, at 24.4 minutes.
Cost-conscious Americans will find the most affordable traveling in Memphis, with monthly parking costs averaging $20 and fuel averaging $36.10, while public transit costs about $25 per month. Other cities with affordable commutes were Columbus, Albuquerque, Houston and Dallas.
Meanwhile, New York City is the priciest place to park, averaging at least $350 per month and also the most expensive to use public transportation at about $132 per month. San Jose and San Diego demand the highest fuel costs $50 per month on average.
Related: Top 12 states for best ‘quality of life’ for workers
San Francisco leads in the share of commuters who bike to work thanks to favorable weather conditions and strong biking culture and infrastructure. Carpooling is popular in Southwest cities like El Paso, San Antonio and Las Vegas possibly due to the large number of HOV lanes that incentivize driving with another passenger to avoid tolls. Only 3% of Americans walk to work, but that percentage is significantly higher in college towns like Boston, where 13% of commuters walk to work. New York leads the nation in public transit usage at 43%.
Finally, Lyft rated the most vibrant downtown areas which may make commuting worth the time and cost. Columbus and Baltimore have made a full recovery from COVID-19, with activity in the lower levels exceeding 2019 levels, according to Lyft. Cities with great bars and restaurants include Washington D.C., New York and San Francisco. New York and San Francisco also offer rich retail experiences.
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