NYC's Long Commutes May Be Forcing Mothers Out of the Workforce

Ever tried to take a stroller on a New York City subway? How about a diaper bag? The city’s transit system is not known for its parent-friendly features, as any mom (or dad) who has lugged their child into the city’s depths can tell you. But it gets worse than that. A report released this week by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer suggests that New Yorkers’ long commutes—often made possible by that same transit system—may be forcing mothers out of the workforce.

The report, which draws from U.S. Census data, found that the average New York City workweek is about 10 minutes longer than the workweeks in other large cities. But they’re two and half hours longer if commute lengths are taken into account. The average New Yorker spends more than six hours a week commuting, and that number balloons to eight if she takes the subway or bus.