Traffic moves south along Interstate 5 on the morning of July 24, 2018. (Nathan Howard/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
The Pacific Northwest may have a reputation for bicycling and recycling. But a new survey that gauges the habits of Washington and Oregon commuters found that when it comes to driving to work, we’re nowhere close to giving up our steering wheels.
A poll of 1,218 Pacific Northwest drivers found that an overwhelming majority, 94 percent, prefer to drive themselves to work as opposed to carpooling, biking or taking public transportation.
“Northwest drivers, like many Americans, are reluctant to give up the wheel as an aspect of control, the ability to do things on their schedule,” said Derek Wing, a spokesman for PEMCO Insurance. PEMCO commissioned the study in June from FBK Research of Seattle, which surveyed a random sample of Washington and Oregon driver’s license holders through an online questionnaire.
Lea Knight, owner of FBK Research, clarified that survey respondents were not drawn from a pool of PEMCO customers.
About three-quarters of those polled said that they prefer to drive to work because it’s the most convenient. Half said that it’s the fastest commuting option, and 22 percent said that it’s their least expensive form of transportation.
Despite the consensus in favor of cars, commuting times are up.
Thirty-two percent of drivers reported that they spend more time getting to and from work now than in years past. About a third of respondents said they’ve shifted their work schedules to avoid peak traffic times, and another 57 percent said that they’ve started taking alternative routes, diverting to back roads to avoid congestion.
In other words, driving remains hugely popular, despite growing less convenient. It’s a little counterintuitive, Wing said, especially considering the revealing answer to another survey question: “Thinking about the form of transportation you use most to commute or go to and from regular activities, if you could easily do whatever was necessary to make it workable (for no extra money), what changes would you make?”
The results indicate that we’re creatures of habit. More than half of respondents said they would change nothing. The second most common answer, drawing 15 percent of respondents, was that they would drive themselves more.
For those who don’t drive on their commute, the survey found the opposite result, with 68 percent of nondrivers saying they’d prefer to make a change in their mode of transportation.
“People get used to routines, and it’s really hard to convince them to change,” Wing said, adding that for many people their commute is an opportunity for some coveted peace and solitude — for singing along to the radio, listening to podcasts, meditating, or whatever else they can’t do once they get to the office.
The poll didn’t delineate drivers from specific regions of Washington and Oregon. However, the Oregon Department of Transportation measures daily average traffic across the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 bridges, offering a snapshot of driving patterns in and around Clark County.
The most recent figures, for August, saw an uptick in traffic across both bridges. The Interstate 5 Bridge saw average daily traffic of 141,600 drivers, up from 138,817 in August 2016. The Glenn Jackson Bridge on I-205 had a similar increase in daily travelers, up to 169,249 vehicles from 165,860 in August 2016.
Density, desirability
“Vancouver, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington — these are all great cities to live in,” said Wing, a Seattle transplant from Boston. “The secret’s out, and there are more and more people coming, which means more cars.”
Again, local data reflects regional trends. Between 2010 and 2017, Clark County’s population rose by 11.6 percent, and Vancouver’s population increased 8.1 percent. Over the same time period, Portland saw an 11 percent increase. In each area, the typical household owns two cars.
Clark County’s average commute time is 26.5 minutes, a tick higher than the national average of 25.3 minutes.
Population growth is an especially relevant topic in the Vancouver-Portland metro area right now, as leaders from both sides of the Columbia River are considering tolling options on and around both bridges.
They’re also deciding whether to devote revenue to increased public transportation or more vehicle capacity. It’s a debate that cuts to the core of the area’s identity — should we be aspirational or pragmatic in how we use our resources?
It’s a big-picture question, and the answer likely won’t be found in a survey for an insurance company. But from PEMCO’s perspective, Wing said, reducing the number of solo commuters is a good thing, as it reduces the risk of crashes.
“Statistically speaking, fewer cars on the road means fewer chances for crashes,” Wing said.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
