Carpooling Down 50% Since 1980

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Nationally, the percentage of people who car-pool has dropped by nearly 50 percent since 1980.

The drop was calculated comparing 1980 Census results with 2010's.  Stacy Bartels, Manager of Marketing and Commuter Services at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, says carpooling was never big in this area to begin with.

"Does it surprise me overall? A little bit, given that gas prices are up," she said. "But in areas that aren't well-served by transit, carpooling tends to do better."

Here, even in the 70's and 80's we weren't all-in because of an established Center City transit net, and not much in the way of high occupancy highway lanes or toll discounts.

"Carpooling hasn't been a huge part of our commuting alternatives."

Even though Share-a-Ride connecting commuters for carpooling is still running, Bartels thinks there's probably a lot going on informally, connected through social media, especially in suburb to suburb commutes.

Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio