After roads went eerily quiet during the early months of the pandemic, traffic is back with a vengeance. Traffic congestion is as bad as it was pre-pandemic in about half of the world's top urban areas, but traffic patterns have shifted, according to a new report by INRIX.
Average hourly traffic during the middle of the day is up 23% since 2019. The traditional morning peak rush hour has given way to a steadier pace of trips starting later in the morning, indicating a shift from a 9-to-5 commute to a more flexible work schedule.
With more flexible work schedules, people are making more midday trips to the grocery store and the gym or getting to work late or leaving early, reflecting a transformation in traffic and congestion patterns.
Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, mentioned that midday travel started to rise when COVID hit and hasn't dissipated, indicating that despite employers pressuring employees to spend more time in the office, remote work has endured.
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