Millennials and Generation X Commuting Less by Car in Portland

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Thursday, October 09, 2014

Kirsten Nicolaisen, GoLocalPDX Digital Producer

From 2007-2013 the number of millennials and Generation X car commuters in Portland fell by 3.5 percent, according to a study by the Brookings Institution. 

The study is based on the latest U.S. Census data from the 2013 American Community Survey. 

Portland, along with two-thirds of the country’s largest metros saw, their Generation X cohort drive less, and instead use alternate modes including public transportation and walking, according to the study. 

Nationally, workers ages 25 to 54 saw their driving rate fall by 0.9 percent between 2007 and 2013, which equates to roughly 750,000 drivers switching to other modes. Baby boomers aged 55 and up are the only commuters to consistently drive more since 2007. 

The youngest working millenials, ages 16 to 24, are commuting the least by car compared to all other age groups. In 1983, 86.1 percent of this age group drove to work, and in 2013 only 82.4 percent drove. 

Young millennials also represent the commuters who most frequently take public transportation and walk to work. Portland has the 11th biggest public transit system in the U.S., according to a study by the National Transit Data Base. The study measured the number of transit trips divided by population size. Portland had an average of 112 million average public transit trips in 2013.

Banner Photo Credit: iStock 

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