Study Finds City Driving on the Rise in U.S.

American drivers are logging an increasing number of miles in urban areas, while mileage on rural roads is falling, according to the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute.

The overall miles driven in the U.S. rose 15% last year from 2000, matching the country’s population increase. Urban mileage jumped 33% during this time despite only a 19% increase in population in such areas, the researchers note. The population in rural areas has stayed about the same over the last 16 years, but the distance driven outside cities fell 12%.

Possible reasons cited for the discrepancy include changing economic and demographic factors. The authors also say additional research is needed to better understand who is driving where and for what purpose, and to assess the impact on driving of internet access and online activity.