The table compares the average number of hours of delay experienced annually by commuters in cities of different sizes between 1985 and 2015, with projections for 2025.
Overall, commuters in larger cities consistently experienced more delays than those in smaller ones. In addition, delays generally increased from 1985 to 2005 before declining afterwards, a trend that is expected to continue across all city sizes.
In 1985, average delay times rose steadily with city size, ranging from 7 hours in small cities to 19 hours in metropolises. Over the following two decades, delays increased markedly in all categories, reaching a peak in 2005. The most significant figures were recorded in metropolitan areas, where commuters experienced an average of 60 hours of delay per year, compared with 42 hours in large cities and just under 30 hours in small and medium-sized cities.
After 2005, delay times decreased across the board. By 2015, small and medium cities recorded identical figures, while large cities and metropolises still experienced substantially higher levels. Looking ahead to 2025, delays are predicted to fall further, particularly in medium-sized cities, although commuters in metropolitan areas are still expected to face the longest delays overall.