Back to Work: America's Commuting Nightmare

May 26, 2009— -- To say that Scott Harper spends a lot of time in his car would be a gross understatement.

The Northern California resident drives two hours -- each way -- to work. And that's on a good day. Traffic delays can easily make the journey three hours or even four.

Harper bought a house for $220,000 in Rio Vista, a suburb northeast of San Francisco and Oakland. He took a job as a retail zone manager in the Santa Cruz area, southwest of the Bay Area. The idea was to eventually move closer to work. But he still owes $200,000 on a house that is now worth $130,000. So each day he hops in his car for the 112-mile commute.

"I spend hours going less than 20 mph on congested freeways," Harper said. "This is a daily ordeal. But, at least I have a job."

Sometimes to avoid the traffic, he will drive 60 miles out of the way.

"It's further, but at least I'm moving," Harper said.

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Harper's commute might be a bit extreme, but he's not alone.

For decades, Americans have been seeking larger homes with nice big lawns and good school systems. In order to afford such space, families have had push further and further away from city centers – or even suburban office parks -- where they work. For most, the only feasible way to work is the car. And that means a lot of traffic, delays and all too often frustration.

But some people are finding new ways to travel, becoming the first in a generation to abandon the car … or at least try to.

The total number of miles traveled by Americans actually fell in 2007, the first drop in nearly 30 years. When the size of a still-growing population is taken into account, the fall was the largest since World War II, according to the Brookings Institute.

Teri Bruna is one of those few lucky Americans who actually enjoys her commute to work. Most days she bikes 13 miles down a river-front trail to her job at a golf club near Aspen, Colo.