Academic Dose: Commuting Patterns in NYC

Academic Dose: Commuting Patterns in NYC Today we stumbled across this interesting article at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York regarding commuting patterns into and out of Manhattan. Turns out that more people are commuting into the city, and people are generally travelling further to get here than they did ten or twenty years ago:

Has the migration of jobs to the suburbs changed the commuting patterns in the New York City metro area? An analysis of current commuting trends suggests that Manhattan remains the region's undisputed employment center and that workers are actually traveling farther to their jobs. Two factors appear to account for the longer commutes: the dispersion of people and jobs and a greater tolerance for long-distance travel among employers and employees.

We just don't understand why anyone would move to Westchester or Jersey when there are so many nice places to live in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Sure, you probably get a lot more space living out in Crackden, Connecticut or wherever-- but you'll spend three hours a day stuck in traffic, only to get home to a place that doesn't even have an American Apparel store. Our recommendation: get rid of 85% of your crap, learn to live in a 400 sqft apartment (kids? loft them!), and stay here until you die.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jake Dobkin in Miscellaneous on November 10, 2005 3:24 PM

Comments [rss]

independent schools

Bryan Fox - Don't imply that people who live in Manhattan don't love their kids! Independent schools are accessible to more than just the wealthy. I adore my kids. I live in midtown. They go to an awesome school.

And yes, my kids have loft beds, which doubles the size of their rooms. They can get to school in 10 minutes by subway and I can walk to work in less than 15. The extra time we spend together every day is well worth the smaller space and higher cost of living!!!

comeagain?

Oh but the schools are blissful and glorious under Bloomberg, so why is anyone complaining?

Mttttttt

The city's definitely a nice place to live, but New Jersey is closer to Manhattan than Brooklyn or Queens. It's definitely a shorter commute to Midtown or Downtown from Rutherford, JC, etc. I've lived all over Brooklyn, so I do know from experience.

You get all the things NYC offers, plus lower rents and a shorter commute. Of course, you lose out on the "hip points" when you say you're living in NJ.

CKim

There is a transit benefit called TransitChek that can help extreme commuters save money by allowing them to use up to $105/month tax-free toward commuting costs.

Samantha T

I love NYC, but the price that you pay to actually purchase something way the hell out in Brooklyn or wherever is outrageous. I think many New Yorkers' idea of a "nice place to live" is completely warped. I don't want to pay $400K plus for some depressing apartment in a neighborhood with zero amenities, an hour commute by subway, and an erratic weekend subway schedule. Ultimately, living in the outer boroughs (I am not talking about Bklyn Heights here) can be a huge pain in the ass - all the bad things about living in the city with few of the conveniences, especially if you have a demanding job and very little free time. The grocery stores/dry cleaners/etc. in my neighborhood in Brooklyn close earlier than they do where my parents live in NJ!

leftywheniwannabee

RESTORE THE COMMUTER TAX!!!

backwardbob

I'd be curious to hear more about reverse commuting trends. I commute to suburban CT from NYC, and I've been amazed at the increase in people I'm seeing who live in the city, but work in places like Rye, Stamford and beyond. The MetroNorth is bursting at the seams!

Bryan Fox

Schools, granted they are improving but if you can't live in Manhattan it's tough to choose to send your kids to sub-standard schools when there are much better choices locally. I hate my commute but love my kids.