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A common misperception is that our "rush hour" traffic is caused exclusively by people traveling to and from work. While work trips are the single largest a large component of "peak hour" traffic (typically 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.), most traffic in the afternoon peak and over half of the traffic in the morning peak is not related to travel to and from work.

What does this mean for you?

You can avoid traffic delays on non-work related trips by considering the time of day that you travel as well as the routes you take to your destination. Some things to consider:

  • Trip chaining: plan ahead so that you combine trips instead of going home between each one.
  • Shop in your neighborhood or online: do some research to see if what you need is available closer to home or online. Many retailers offer free shipping with online purchases over a certain amount.
  • Think about how you get there: is this a trip that you can take on foot or bicycle? Can you get some exercise at the same time you take care of your trip needs?
  • Look for carpooling opportunities for those one-time trips and special events: UTA's new ride-matching software allows you to find others that are traveling to that soccer game, to the symphony, or other destinations. Go to www.utarideshare.com.
  • Avoid major routes during peak travel hours: I-15 and I-80 as well as other major routes are busier during peak travel hours. If you must travel during peak times, use online tools and resources to identify alternative routes that keep you off the busiest roads.
  • Think about alternative ways to get your kids to and from school: Can you and other families take turns carpooling kids to school? Or even better, encourage kids to walk or ride bikes to school. UDOT's Safe Routes 2 School program offers ideas on how to get kids to and from school safely including things such as a walking school bus. Visit www.dot.state.ut.us/sr2s for more information.

1Peak period percentages taken from national data according to the 2001 National Household Travel Survey.