Commuters still prefer to go it alone

Climbing gas prices are raising the hackles of Americans, but most commuters still drive to work alone.

Nearly eight in 10 commuters made the trip solo, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2005 American Community Survey.

That wasn’t much different than the 2003 survey.

The trend is no different in Spokane. In fact, more Spokane workers reported driving to work by themselves in 2005 than in 2003, despite Washington gas prices increasing 43 percent. In the 2003 survey, 77 percent of Spokane workers responding said they drove alone to work. In 2005, that percentage increased to 79 percent.

Just 2 percent said they used public transportation, up from 1 percent in 2003.

Nationwide, public transportation commuting gained just 0.1 percent from 2000 to 2005.

“Something is not jiving here,” said Spokane Transit Authority spokeswoman Molly Myers.

Though STA hasn’t marketed riding the bus to people tired of paying more for gas, Myers said the agency has seen increasing numbers of riders.

She speculated that the real pain of gas price increases wasn’t felt until after the 2005 survey, when prices topped $3 a gallon.

“I know it would be different in 2006 or 2007,” she said.

STA ridership increased 15 percent over the past year. How many of those are commuters, however, is unclear.

The American Community Survey samples 250,000 households.

Safe Spokane

Spokane drivers are the safest in Washington, according to Allstate insurance company.

The city’s drivers are 7.8 percent less likely to get into a crash than drivers nationwide, making them third best in the Northwest and 41st in the country.

Spokane has ranked No. 1 in Washington all three years that Allstate has compiled its “America’s Best Drivers Report.”

The rankings were derived by examining Allstate policyholders’ claims. The company reports about 12 percent of U.S. drivers buy its insurance.

Boise had the safest drivers in the Northwest and Sioux Falls, S.D., had the safest in the country, according to the report.

Seattle drivers were 20.3 percent more likely to get into a wreck than drivers nationwide. Must be too much coffee.

Ratting on drivers

More drivers are snitching on fellow motorists thanks to mobile phones, according to a recent USA Today story.

Encouraged by special phone numbers, they tip off authorities to things like drunken driving, aggressive driving and littering.

Have you ever reported a bad driver? Do you worry that people might tattle as a form of retaliation when they themselves are at fault?

Slow going

I-90

The right eastbound lane of Interstate 90 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Thor.

I-90 has been reduced to two lanes in each direction in downtown Spokane for the viaduct repair project. Speed limits are reduced.

The only downtown exits remaining open are eastbound Maple/Walnut, eastbound Division (for southbound traffic only), eastbound Hamilton, westbound Second Avenue, westbound Hamilton and westbound Division.

On-ramps remaining open are eastbound Browne, eastbound Hamilton and westbound Maple.

In Idaho, I-90 is reduced to one lane in each direction from about Mullan Road to Exit 22 at U.S. Highway 97 as crews work on the Blue Creek Bay Bridges.

Downtown Spokane

Work on the intersection of Monroe Street, Spokane Falls Boulevard and Main Avenue is causing delays weekdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Crews are repairing Assembly Street from Olympic Avenue to Winston Drive this week.

North Spokane

Liberty Avenue is closed from Madelia Street to Pittsburg Street and Pittsburg Street is closed from North Foothills Drive to Bridgeport Avenue for repaving.

Mill Road is closed from about Fairwood Road to Dartford Drive for sewer work.

The intersection of Washington Street and Buckeye Avenue is closed until Tuesday. Washington Street is closed from Shannon Avenue to Buckeye until mid-July, with Washington also reduced to one lane in each direction from Boone to Indiana.

Maple Street is closed from Northwest Boulevard to just north of Wellesley Avenue through June.

Sharp/Sinto Avenue is closed from Haven Street to Fiske Street. Fiske paving is under way between Boone and Mission avenues.

South Spokane

Perry Street is closed from 30th to 32nd avenues Tuesday.

29th Avenue is closed from Havana to Glenrose. Detours are in place.

Northbound U.S. Highway 195 is reduced to one lane in several places between Spangle and Hatch Road.

Southeast Boulevard is closed from Perry Street to Third Avenue.

Spokane Valley

Upriver Drive is closed from near Boulder Beach to a few blocks west of Argonne Road. The Centennial Trail also is closed along the same stretch.

Highway 27 is reduced to single-lane traffic near 46th Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.