Overview

Commuting is the routine travel that people undertake between their place of residence and their place of work or study. A person who makes that journey regularly is called a commuter. Commutes can be short or long, by foot or by motor vehicle, and are typically repeated on most workdays. The character of commuting—direction, distance and mode—depends on housing, job location, transport options and personal circumstances.

Modes and patterns

Common means of commuting include walking, private car, bus, train, tram, rideshare, and bicycle. Many people rely on public transport for regular journeys, while others live in a suburb and travel to an urban centre. Cycling and other micromobility forms are increasingly significant in some cities; see examples for bicycles such as commuting by bicycles. Some journeys are one-way suburbs-to-city, but the reverse commute—travelling from suburbs or smaller towns into jobs located in outer areas or industrial parks—is also common.

History and development

Large-scale commuting emerged with industrialization and the expansion of transport networks. Before inexpensive, regular rail and bus services, most people lived close to their workplace. The 19th-century growth of scheduled public services and later widespread automobile ownership allowed greater separation of home and work, enabling suburbs and longer daily trips. Subsequent changes in land use, employment decentralization and information technology have continued to reshape commuting patterns.

Effects and significance

Commuting affects time budgets, household routines and urban form. Long or congested commutes can increase stress and reduce leisure time, while efficient transport links expand access to employment. Commutes also produce environmental impacts through energy use and emissions, and they contribute to peak congestion that influences transport planning. Economists and planners consider commuting when assessing housing affordability, job access and regional growth.

Responses and variations

Policy and personal responses include promoting flexible work hours, telecommuting, carpooling, cycling infrastructure, park-and-ride facilities and congestion pricing. The choice of mode and the length of a commute vary by income, job type, family needs and the availability of services. Because commuting is so visible in everyday life, it remains a central topic for urban planning, transport policy and discussions about work–life balance.

Common commute modes

  • Walking and cycling
  • Private automobile
  • Bus, tram and light rail
  • Commuter rail and subway
  • Rideshare and carpool
  • Telecommuting and flexible-location work