Most Americans Still Drive to Work Alone

Adding fuel to the argument that rising gasoline costs do not reduce consumption comes word from the U.S. Census Bureau that driving to work alone continued to be the nation's favored way of getting to work. According to the Census' survey, nearly nine out of 10 workers (87.7 percent), commuted in a private vehicle during 2005, with a full 77 percent of them driving alone.

Only 4.7 percent of American commuters rode public transportation in 2005, an increase of only one-tenth of one percent over 2000.

Ped Power?
Not too far behind riding public transportation, walking was reported as 2.5 percent of all commuters' means of daily transportation. Portland, Oregon led all large cities in percentage of bicycling commuters at 3.5 percent, about eight times the national average of 0.4 percent.

The Census Bureau is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, an executive branch, Cabinet-level department.

Also See:
Gas Prices Higher Than 2006, But So Is Demand (US Economy)
How would a gas tax reduce consumption? (Economics)
Careful Driving Saves Gasoline But Not in America (Environment)
Public Transportation: Fast Track to Fewer Emissions and Energy Independence