I'd Rather Be . . . Taking Public Transportation: WageWorks Center for Commuter Studies Survey Shows Public Transportation Riders Better Rested, Read and Relaxed

SAN MATEO, Calif.--Nov. 1, 20032, 2003--Despite recent transit fare hikes in many cities, most commuters prefer public transportation over driving, saying they exercise their minds and their bodies more, generally feel more relaxed and believe they are having a positive impact on the environment, according to a new survey commissioned by the WageWorks Center for Commuter Studies(SM)(i). The WageWorks Center for Commuter Studies launched today as a new resource for commuting trends and issues affecting the American public.

Commuting Experience a Regional Affair

In polling the country's top five transportation hubs, the survey found that local commuters have distinct perceptions about their own commuting experience and public transportation that differentiate their city from the rest of the country:

-- Chicagoans rank their commute the highest in terms of ease of commute (63 percent agreed that their commute was easy).

-- Los Angelinos pay the most for commuting, averaging almost $10 more per month than the national average ($101 versus $93).

-- Eighty percent of New Yorkers want cleaner stations and trains.

-- San Franciscans are the least likely to have witnessed any problematic behavior while commuting, with only 6 percent reporting any commuting tribulation.

-- Fourteen percent of commuters in Washington, D.C. have changed their commuting behavior because of fears of terrorism.

Using Commute Time to Squeeze in Quality Moments

According to the survey, a vast majority of respondents use their commuting time for simple past times such as catching up on reading a newspaper or book (89 percent) or just relaxing (49 percent). Additionally, people who take public transportation are more likely to get 30 minutes of exercise three times a week (22 percent) than people who have never taken public transportation (15 percent). Average commute time of respondents overall was 46 minutes a day, with those respondents who use public transportation averaging 51 minutes per day. "For many people, how they commute has a real impact on their quality of life," said Laura Wheeler of the WageWorks Center for Commuter Studies. "Many believe their lives are actually enhanced by their method of commuting, and are finding that they can use this time to squeeze in small amounts of quality moments that otherwise would be lost."

According to the survey, respondents are generally positive about the public transportation experience, with more than half (59 percent) of respondents rating their local public transportation as either "excellent" or "good." In terms of convenience, respondents also gave positive scores averaging between 1.0 and 1.5, with zero as "very easy" and 4 as "very difficult."

Public transportation riders also feel good about what they are doing for their urban and physical environment -- 54 percent of respondents felt that taking public transportation helped to reduce pollution.

The Car is No Longer King

While the car is still the most common form of transportation for respondents who commute three or more days a week (53 percent), the car is not the overwhelming choice as the ideal mode of transportation to get to work. While 34 percent overall selected the car as the ideal mode of transportation, taking public transportation, such as the subway, train or bus, was the combined choice of nearly as many respondents (30 percent), while 24 percent of commuters said walking was the ideal commute.

Public Transportation Riders Do the Math but Could Save More

The survey found that respondents who ride public transportation have a much clearer idea of their actual commute costs than their car driving counterparts. Eighty-six percent of public transportation users have calculated how much it costs them to commute versus 33 percent of people who have never taken public transportation. Additionally, of the 28 percent of respondents who participate in an employer-sponsored commuting program, slightly more than half (55 percent) are taking advantage of pre-tax benefit programs, while 36 percent receive a subsidy for using public transportation or a vanpool. Not surprisingly, those respondents that were most satisfied with their employer-sponsored commuter program also felt they saved the most money per month ($82), with all respondents averaging monthly savings of $60.

"As the cost of transportation and commuting in general continues to rise, the vast majority of commuters are still not taking advantage of the pre-tax commuter benefit programs offered by employers," said Dan Corbett, vice president of transportation development at WageWorks. "According to our data, 17 percent of employers offer commuter benefit programs and enrolling in these employer-sponsored programs can help save consumers up to 40 percent on commuting costs they are already paying for, and help to maximize their take-home pay."

About the WageWorks Center for Commuter Studies

This survey was released in conjunction with the official launch of the WageWorks Center for Commuter Studies. The Center for Commuter Studies is a resource for commuting trends and issues. The Center provides research and other relevant data, analysis, and perspective on the issues facing commuters across the United States, especially those who commute to and from work via public transportation and/or private vehicle. The Center, including experts in commuter trends, government policy, and transit agency issues, is a resource for the commuting public, businesses providing commute programs to their employees, and the media. The survey is available on the Center's Web site at www.commuterstudies.com.

About Population Research Systems

Population Research Systems, LLC (PRS), a subsidiary of Freeman, Sullivan & Co., provides expert consulting for research and evaluation design, complex data analysis, and statistical modeling to facilitate effective decision-making. PRS was formed to deliver research and evaluation services for discerning academic, research institute, healthcare, government, and corporate clientele. Studies conducted by the firm have been used for community intervention planning and evaluation, public policy development, marketing initiatives, economic analysis and strategic planning.

PRS has conducted studies that are local, statewide, national, and international in scope. Clients include federal, state, and local government agencies; universities; and nonprofit organizations as well as Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies.

WageWorks is a registered trademark of WageWorks, Inc.

(i) The survey was conducted on the Internet by Population Research Systems, LLC between August 20, 2003 and August 27, 2003 and included 747 individuals aged 18 and older in five metropolitan regions: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago. With a sample this size, the margin of error is at most 3.58%, at a 95% confidence level.