U.S. drivers lost 42 hours—a full work week—to traffic in 2023: Congestion 'hinders economic growth,' expert says
According to the 2023 INRIX report, New Yorkers lost 101 hours in congestion.
Let's get everyone back to the office, though! Amirite‽ (Lookin' at you Mayor Bowser.)
FFS
WFH in the current U.S suburban development pattern leads to traffic as well, as people in that context make on average more trips outside of the peak commuter times which would not have otherwise been made. CityNerd covered it in his last video, which has not been released on his YouTube channel yet (Nebula link here.
This is not a comment on the value of WFH being good or bad, but it's decidedly not a solution to any questions of transportation, and I would like for it to be kept out of those conversations so that the question does not steal oxygen from actual solutions like transit expansions, zoning reform, improved bicycle infrastructure and so on.
“the equivalent of a full work week — that resulted in $733 worth of time lost.”
Did it result in time lost or do people still do their full hours and effectively extend their workday to accomodate these long commute times. If the latter then what is actually lost is personal time (family time, exercise time, time to cook healthy meals, rest, etc).
It's definitely the second one.
42 hours with family, friends.
Corporate media's sycophantic bias laid bare.
Sleeping. Preparing food that's not instant garbage. Etc.
And this is basically how I explained to my boss once upon a time that suddenly requiring us to go into the office more was a de facto pay cut.
Motorcycles and lane splitting ftw
Oh I know, let's add more lanes and car traffic flow controls. That's proven successful
One more lane bro! It'll fix traffic this time I swear!
And more/wider highways induces more car congestion. Remember that when your politicians demand multi billion dollar highway projects, claiming "one more lane" will fix it THIS time.
Well fuck economic growth.
I hate how they frame it as a "full work week lost".
No, this was "time with family" lost, "time to better your health" lost, "time to focus on mental health" lost...
Also, being in a car for that long (instead of using a more active form of transportation), likely results in time lost off their lifespan, too.
