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Commute Times on the Rise, Outdoor Advertisers Celebrate

The time people spend in their cars on their way to work is slowly but steadily increasing, having grown from 21.7 minutes to 22.4 minutes in 2000.

Commute times are longest in the Northeast, according to a new report from the Transportation Research Board, writes MediaPost. The report (pdf), Commuting in America: The Third National Report on Commuting Patterns and Trends, was based on U.S. Census data from 1990 to 2000.

The Outdoor Advertising Association of America, which is publicizing the report, points out that there are several demographic trends which validate the value of the ability to reach consumers outside the home. “Americans are spending more time in their car than ever before as commute times are significantly up, traffic is more congested and the Baby Boomer generation mainly moves via auto,” the report points out. “Congestion is getting worse in heavily populated areas and smaller metro areas as well.”