Bay Area Carpooling On The Decline

SAN JOSE (CBS/AP) -- Census data show that participation in carpooling in California has declined over the past 30 years despite hundreds of millions of dollars spent on programs to increase the practice.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that Santa Clara County has seen an especially large dip in carpooling, dropping from 14 to 10.1 percent over the past three decades.

Three other San Francisco Bay Area Counties -- San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa -- also showed drops in carpooling from previous years.

John Ristow of the Valley Transportation Authority says the numbers are not surprising as more people own their own cars now than did 30 years ago.

The percentage fell from 16.9 to 12 percent statewide over the same period, and nationwide it declined from 20 to 10.5 percent.

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