Survey reveals travel plans

Hello

Last week we published the results of a survey we carried out to find out more about how people plan to travel around once Covid restrictions are lifted. The results showed that cars will continue to be the preferred mode of transport for around half of journeys post-Covid, putting climate targets and a fair economic recovery at risk. 

We know that cars are the main contributor to carbon emissions and lethal air pollution, so returning to a car-dominated transport network is simply not an option post-Covid. Our research highlights that unless the Government does more to promote public transport and encourage its use, we cannot hope to reduce harmful emissions or build back in a way that is fair and sustainable.

The survey revealed that: 

• UK adults largely expect to choose to travel as they did before the pandemic with private cars remaining the dominant form of transport for around half for shopping, leisure and personal matters
• Two thirds (65%) of UK adults in employment were working entirely from their place of work before the pandemic, whereas just half (53%) plan to do so when restrictions begin to ease
• Slightly more people plan to use the car for the school run post-Covid – up from 19 per cent to 22 per cent
• Less crowded services, cheaper tickets and better routes came top of the public’s wish list to encourage increased use of public transport post-pandemic.

Perhaps most worryingly, the research revealed that a fifth (20%) of UK adults say nothing would currently encourage them to increase their use of public transport, rising to 29 per cent among those aged 55 and over. This shows that the Government still has a long way to go in getting its messaging right and reversing the damage done during the pandemic to the perceived safety of public transport.