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percent transit usage.

The difference is due to students'

walking and cycling.41

Even if another city could match New York's level of

transit usage by increasing its population density, the

density increase required would swamp the reduction in the

auto's share of trips.  The density of the average U.S.

metropolitan area is a little more than half that of New

York, and 88 percent of urban workers commute by car.  Dou-

bling densities to reduce auto usage from 88 to 65 percent--

a 26 percent decrease--translates into a 50 percent increase

in auto traffic within the target area.

New York is an anomaly.  Figure 1 compares the share of

commuters using autos with the population densities of the

nation's 282 largest urban areas.  Autos hold more than 75

percent of the market in every area except New York and more

than 90 percent in the vast majority of areas, including Los

Angeles and Miami, the two densest areas.  There is no clear

correlation between density and auto usage.

Figure 1

Population Density and Share of Commuter Trips Made by Auto in 1990

Source: Bureau of the Census, Database C90STF3A at http://venus.census.gov/cdrom/look

up/875134983 and 875128475.