“Swift Swings: Southern California Sees a Sharp Decline in Super Commuters”

“Swift Swings: Southern California Sees Sharp Decline in Super Commuters”

In a surprising turn of events, the number of Southern California workers with 90-minute-plus commutes has been drastically reduced by nearly one-third, thanks to the impact of the pandemic. According to recent Census Bureau stats, the region saw a significant drop in the number of “super commuters” – individuals who endure long workday trips of an hour and a half or more.

The latest data from 2022 compared to pre-coronavirus 2019 reveals that Southern California had 299,619 super commuters in 2022, marking a 30% decrease of 130,640 individuals over three years. This accounts for 3.5% of all commuters with lengthy commutes, down from 4.5% in 2019. Overall commuting in the region also decreased by 11% during the same period.

This trend is not exclusive to Southern California, as the entire state and even the nation have seen similar declines in super commuters. Statewide, California experienced a 32% drop in super commuters, while nationwide, there was a 23% decrease.

Breaking it down by county, Los Angeles leads the pack with 127,497 super commuters, a 39% decrease from 2019. Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Orange County also saw significant reductions in super commuters, reflecting a shift in how people are commuting to work.

The decrease in super commuters is a positive sign that changes in remote work and living arrangements have had a tangible impact on commuting patterns. While the pandemic brought about many challenges, it seems to have inadvertently alleviated the burden of long and arduous commutes for many Southern Californians.

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