ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- From 2000 to 2016, distance driven on all roads grew 15%, according to a recent analysis by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, Mich. During this time, the U.S. population rose 15%, meaning overall distance driven per person was flat.
However, the researchers found that the mileage growth trend for urban and rural areas moved in opposite directions during this time period. Which area saw an increase and which saw a decline? Here are four insights from the study ...
From 2000 to 2016, urban driving grew by 33%, according to an analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data. Alternately, rural driving declined 12%.
The researchers noted a couple characteristics of urban driving that may account for some of the difference:
Changes in population could also be a factor. From 2000 to 2016, the U.S. urban population grew 19%, while the rural population remained basically unchanged. This would reflect the increase in the U.S population and a net increase in migration to urban areas.
However, the urban population increase could only explain about 58% of the increase in distance driven, according to the report. Meanwhile, rural distance driven declined even though the population of these areas stayed the same.
These findings invite some new questions that the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute researchers hope to study. Namely, how might the demographics of new urban residents affect how much they drive? What recent economic changes have occurred in urban areas that might have influenced the driving behavior? Who drives on urban roads vs. rural roads and why? And how has greater internet access and online activity affected driving behavior in rural areas?
Click here for an abstract of the report, Recent Diverging Trends in the Amount of Urban and Rural Driving in the United States.
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