Super-commuting on the rise in the U.S., other parts of the world
Friday, August 24, 2012
Despite the rising capabilities of telecommuting technology, more employees are commuting upwards of 90 minutes each way for work on a daily basis, reported the Clinton Herald.
The U.S. Census Bureau defines "super-commuters" as employees who commute 90 minutes or more each way to work. A report by the New York University's Wagner Rudin Center showed that the borough of Manhattan in New York City had the highest amount of super-commuters in the country.
Many Manhattan workers travel from Boston, Philadelphia, Albany and upstate New York. According to the study, the number of Boston-to-Manhattan commuters went from 1,400 people to 3,100 between the years of 2002 and 2009, despite rising gas prices and increased telecommunication capabilities.
The New York City area isn't alone. Not only is super-commuting rising within the United States, the phenomenon has spread to other parts of the world. According to the Australian news source the Herald Sun, an National Roads and Motorists' Association survey revealed that nearly one in four Australian commuters spend 45 minutes commuting each way.
While this commute is only half of the amount of time of an American super-commute, both figures reveal a need for closer-to-work corporate housing or furnished apartments.