Car travel now exceeds pre-pandemic levels in most US cities

A recent report shows that vehicle miles traveled in the US have risen 12% since 2019, with New York City’s urban core seeing the largest increase.

Linda Poon reports for Bloomberg.

In short:

• Driving in most US metropolitan areas is higher than before the pandemic, with a 12% increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) from 2019 to 2024.
• NYC saw a 14.7% rise in daily VMT per capita, the highest of any major city center, while Los Angeles saw a 17% decline.
• Remote work and population shifts may be contributing to changes in driving patterns.

Key quote:

“Congestion is pretty stubborn.”

— Emily Adler, director of content at StreetLight Data.

Why this matters:

Increased driving worsens pollution and traffic congestion, both of which complicate efforts to meet climate and public health goals. Policymakers must address infrastructure and urban planning to curb these trends.

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