Data Point: How We Commute (2023-09)
This is a look at commuting related data from the ACS (American Community Survey) for the most recent available year (2021):
Commute Mode
| Mode | GR % | USA % |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 67.7 | 67.8 |
| Carpool | 8.7 | 7.8 |
| Public transplantation | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Walked | 3.9 | 2.2 |
| Bicycle | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Other | 0.7 | 1.5 |
| Work From Home | 15.7 | 17.9 |
A total of 16.6%, nearly 1 in 5, residents in Grand Rapids who commute do so by a mode other than "drive alone".
Aside: The city's Strategic Plan set a goal of 55% not-drive-alone mode share by 2035; the mode specific goals in the plan are transit: 20%, walking: 10%, biking: 5%, and taxi 20%. As ever, it is difficult to know how seriously to consider any of the city's goals - especially on a 15 year time horizon [with term limits that is at least ~1.5 commissions removed from the adoption of the goals].
Commute Time
In minutes, how long do residents of Grand Rapids spend commuting?
| Travel Time | GR % | USA % |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 10 minutes | 14.8% | 13.2% |
| 10 - 14 minutes | 22.9% | 13.6 % |
| 15 - 19 minutes | 24.6% | 15.7% |
| 20 - 24 minutes | 18.1% | 14.7 % |
| 25 - 29 minutes | 5.4% | 6.9 % |
| 30 - 34 minutes | 8.1% | 13.7% |
| 35 - 44 minutes | 2% | 6.9% |
| 44 - 59 minutes | 2.3% | 7.6% |
| More than 60 minutes | 1.7% | 7.7% |
85% of residents who commute have a commute time of less than 30 minutes; 62% have a commute time of less than 20 minutes. This compared to 64% and 42% respectively. Mean commute time for Grand Rapids residents is 17.5 minutes.
Grand Rapids residents have short commutes!