29
Travel during Covid-19 Tracking research - week 21 25 September 2020
Travel during Covid-19 Tracking research - week 21
25 September 2020
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Use of public transport has been increasing over
time, but has fallen since last week
2
18%
12%
6%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
20%
Use of public transport in last seven days – Great Britain
Public Transport Overall Bus Train
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Use of train and bus has fallen since last week
3
4%
4%
3%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
Use of train in last seven days
Train (outside London) London Underground Train (London)
8%
4%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
Use of bus in last seven days
Bus (outside London) London Bus
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Almost three fifths of those who previously used buses and
trains regularly, but have not done so in the last seven days,
have not used a bus or train since before lockdown.
4
When regular bus and trains users who have not used a bus or a train
in the last seven days last did so
13% 14%8% 6%
59%
In the last 2weeks
In the last month In the last 2-3months
In the last 3-6months
Before travelrestrictions were
introduced
Those who used buses a few times a month before lockdown, but who have not used a
bus in the last seven days – 471
10%16%
9%6%
59%
In the last 2weeks
In the last month In the last 2-3months
In the last 3-6months
Before travelrestrictions were
introduced
Those who used trains a few times a month before lockdown, but who have not used a
train in the last seven days – 466
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Road use has increased slowly over time
5
64%
36%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Use of car / van in last seven days
As a driver As a passenger
6%
1%0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
Use of taxi / motorcycle in the last seven days
Taxi Motorcycle*
* Separated out at week 12 (17-19 July)
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Congested and heavy traffic continues to
increase
6
24%
59%
16%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Reported volume of traffic
Congested / Heavy Moderate Light
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Less than half have made journeys on foot and
fewer have made journeys by bike
7
49%
8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Use of other modes of transport in the last seven days
Walking Bicycle
77%
42%40%
22%32%
34%
7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Shopping for essentials / groceries*
Visiting friends or relatives"
To travel for other leisure reasons such as eating out, visiting attractions etc."
To travel to exercise"
Travelling on personal business (doctor, hospital, bank etc.)
Travelling to or from place of work
Travelling for work outside of travelling to or from place of work^
8
Reasons for making journeys in the last seven days
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Travel to work is increasing slowly over time. Travelling for
leisure reasons such as eating out and visiting attractions fell
as the holiday period came to an end but has risen recently.
* Shopping’ weeks 1-9 (1 May – 28 June)
“ data shown from week 10 (3-5 July) only as significant text changes made from
this week onwards
^ New code added at week 17 (21-23 August)
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 A third have visited a restaurant in the last seven days. Three
in ten have had visitors from outside their household in their
home. Findings are generally consistent with last week.
9
Leisure activities enjoyed in last 7 days
41% 40%
32% 35%
28% 29%
20% 19%
8% 8%
4% 5%
7% 6%
GONE TO A RESTAURANT / CAFÉ
HAD VISITORS FROM OUTSIDE MY HOUSEHOLD
INSIDE MY HOME
GONE TO A PUB/BAR
GONE ON A SHORT BREAK AWAY FROM MY HOME
OVERNIGHT
GONE TO AN OUTDOOR LEISURE ATTRACTION, E.G.
ZOO, THEME PARK
GONE TO AN INDOOR LEISURE ATTRACTION, E.G.
MUSEUM, GALLERY, SOFT PLAY AREA
NONE OF THE ABOVE
49%
25%
47%
1%
4%
3%
22%
24%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Because I had no reason to make a journey using public transport
Because I don't feel safe using public transport at the moment^
I have used a car / van instead
I have used a motorcycle instead"
I have cycled instead
I could not travel because I was ill / self isolating / caring for others
I have walked instead
Because I have been avoiding public transport*
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 The proportion of those avoiding using public
transport, or not feeling safe doing so, has generally
fallen over time
10
Reasons public transport not used in the last seven days
* Wording amended at week 10 ( 3-5 July) and at week 13 (24-26 July)
^ New coded added at week 10 (3-5 July)
“ New code added at week 12 (17-19 July)
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Compared with those who have not used public transport in the last
seven days overall, those who previously used public transport
regularly are more likely to say that they did not do so because they
don’t feel safe or are avoiding public transport.
11
Reasons public transport not used in the last seven days;
previous regular users of public transport compared with those who
have not used public transport in the last seven days overall
29%
36%
38%
34%
22%
47%
24%
25%
I have walked instead
I have used a car instead
I have been avoiding public transport
I don't feel safe using public transportat the moment
Those who have not used public transport in the last seven daysoverall
Those who used public transport regularly prior to lockdown
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Half of those who previously used buses regularly will do so in the next
month. Those who haven’t used a bus in the last seven days, but have
done so in the last month, are more likely than others to use a bus in
the next month or sooner
12
Anticipated future use of bus
69%
66%
80%
52%
Those in London*
Those without access to a car*
Those who have not used a bus inthe last seven days but have within
the last month*
Those using buses regularly prior tolockdown overall
% In the next month or sooner
* Denotes statistically significant difference to those using bus overall
30%
10%12%
7%5%
10%
5%1%
20%
In thenext 7days
In thenext 2weeks
In thenext
month
In thenext 2-3months
In thenext 3-6months
In thenext 6months
to a year
Morethan ayear
Not at all Don'tknow /Unsure
All using bus a few times in a typical month prior to lockdown – 693
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 21 Two fifths of those who previously used trains regularly will do so in
the next month. Those who haven’t used a train in the last seven days,
but have done so in the last month, are more likely than others to use a
train in the next month or sooner
13
Anticipated future use of train
51%
53%
67%
74%
39%
Those aged 18-24*
Those aged 25-34*
Those in London*
Those who have not used a train inthe last seven days but have done so
in the last month*
Those using trains regularly prior tolockdown overall
% In the next month or sooner
* Denotes statistically significant difference to those using trains overall
16%
8%
15% 14%
11%
14%
4%
1%
18%
In thenext 7days
In thenext 2weeks
In thenext
month
In thenext 2-3months
In thenext 3-6months
In thenext 6months
to a year
Morethan ayear
Not at all Don'tknow /Unsure
All using trains at least a few times in a typical month prior to lockdown – 563
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 20 The proportion of those who regularly used buses or trains
before lockdown who say that they will use a bus or train in
the next month or sooner has fallen significantly this week
14
Anticipated future use of train; lead-in time
All using trains at least a few times in a typical month prior to lockdown – 496
Anticipated future use of bus; lead-in time
All using bus a few times in a typical month prior to lockdown – 732
50%56% 55% 57% 56% 57% 52%
7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep 18-20 Sep
41%48%
43%50% 46%
52%
39%
7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep 18-20 Sep
% in the next month or sooner
% in the next month or sooner
19%
61%
14%
6%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 21
15
Specifically in relation to coronavirus*, how safe do you feel at the
moment when using trains?
Base: All making journeys by train, W21 – 112
More than four in five of those making
train journeys in the last seven days felt
safe doing so
• Reference to coronavirus specifically added at week 16
15%21% 22%
6% 9%16% 15% 19%
85% 79% 78%94% 91% 84% 85% 81%
85% 82% 80%82% 87% 89% 87% 83%
31 Jul-2 Aug 7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep 18-20 Sep
% Not very / Not at all safe
Very / Fairly safe
% Very / Fairly safe - aggregated three-week average
8%
39%
35%
19%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 21
Specifically in relation to coronavirus^, if you had to make a journey
at the moment, how safe would you feel making a journey by train?
Base: All excluding those making journeys by train, W21 – 1,902
42% 47%48% 48% 50% 49% 46% 46%
31 Jul-2Aug
7-9 Aug 14-16Aug
21-23Aug
28-30Aug
4-6 Sep 11-13Sep
18-20Sep
16
Among those who have not used a train in the
last seven days, those that have done so in the
month are more likely than others to feel safe
doing so again
% safe
^ Reference to coronavirus specifically added at week 16
12%
5%
18%
20%
43%
34%
57%
59%
32%
39%
21%
20%
13%
22%
4%
2%
Those who used trainsregularly before lockdown
Those who have not used atrain since before lockdown
Those who have used a trainsince lockdown
Those who have not used atrain in the last seven days, buthave done so in the last month
Very safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
21%
59%
19%1%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 21
17
Specifically in relation to coronavirus, how safe do you feel at the
moment when using buses?
Base: All making journeys by bus, W21 – 240
21%13%
19% 18%23% 20%
79% 87% 81% 82% 77% 80%
79% 83% 82% 83% 80% 80%
14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep 18-20 Sep
% Not very / Not at all safe
Very / Fairly safe
% Very / Fairly safe - aggregated three-week average
More than three quarters of those making
bus journeys in the last seven days felt
safe doing so
18
Specifically in relation to coronavirus, if you had to make a journey at
the moment, how safe would you feel making a journey by bus?
Base: All excluding those making journeys by bus, W21 – 1,774
7%
30%
39%
24%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 21 38%41% 42% 40% 38% 37%
14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep 18-20 Sep
% safe
6%
4%
16%
17%
28%
26%
44%
49%
43%
42%
32%
27%
23%
28%
8%
7%
Those who used busesregularly before lockdown
Those who have not useda bus since before
lockdown
Those who have used abus since lockdown
Those who have not useda bus in the last seven
days but have done so inthe last month
Very safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Among those who have not used a bus in the last
seven days, those that have done so in the month
are more likely than others to feel safe doing so
again
9%
18%
10%
48%
65%
51%
43%
18%
39%
Those not using publictransport in the last 7
days
Those using publictransport in the last
seven days
All respondents
More safe Equally safe Less safe
19
Those who have used public transport in the last
seven days are more likely than those that have
not to think that it is equally or more safe than
other places such as shops, restaurants or pubs
Thinking about public transport, and specifically in relation
to coronavirus, which of these statements applies to you..?
I think that using public transport is more / less / equally as
safe than other places such as shops, restaurants, or pubs
Base: All respondents (2,014), those using public transport (340),
those not using public transport (1,577)
* Denotes statistically significant difference from respondents overall
46%
44%
Those who have not used a bussince before lockdown*
Those who have not used a trainsince before lockdown*
% Less safe
20
19%23%
20%22% 22%
20%22%
18%
66%
60% 60%
65%63% 64% 63%
65%
15%17%
20%
13%16% 16% 15%
18%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
31 Jul-2Aug
7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep 18-20 Sep
More safe Equally safe Less safe
The perceived safety of public transport
as compared to shops, restaurants, pubs
etc has been consistent over time
Thinking about public transport, and specifically in relation
to coronavirus, which of these statements applies to you..?
I think that using public transport is more / less / equally as
safe than other places such as shops, restaurants, or pubs
Base: Those using public transport in the last seven days - 340
29% 29% 14% 9% 20%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
21
The proportion of those who say that
they expect to work from home more
often in the future is growing
40% 47% 46%52% 49% 50% 47% 50% 49% 49% 52% 50% 54%
56% 58%
1-3May
7-9May
15-17May
22-24May
29-31May
5-7Jun
12-14Jun
19-21Jun
7-9Aug
14-16Aug
21-23Aug
28-30Aug
4-6Sep
11-13Sep
18-20Sep
I expect to work from home more often in the future.
Base: W21 1,059
% Agree
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
* Denotes statistically significant difference from respondents overall
Question dropped w9 (26-28 June) - w14 (31 July – 2 August)
53%
70%
69%
70%
63%
60%
Those in Scotland
Those in Wales
Those in London*
Those in social class AB*
Those aged 25-34*
Those aged 18-24
% Agree
26%
27%
43%
40%
14%
16%
10%
10%
7%
7%
Week 20
Week 21
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
22
Almost seven in ten say that they are avoiding
doing things they feel are unnecessary because
they are worried about Covid-19
I am avoiding doing things that I don’t see as absolutely
necessary because I’m worried about COVID
Base: W21 1,970
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
65%
68%
69%
73%
70%
67%
Those in Scotland
Those in Wales
Those in London
Those with a disability*
Those using public transport regularlybefore lockdown*
Respondents overall
% Agree
All the results from this wave and previous waves of this research are
available for your own analysis on the Transport Focus Data Hub.
The data is available for anyone to view at:
www.transportfocus.org.uk/data-hub
You can access the survey by clicking on ‘Covid-19 Travel Survey’
23
Transport Focus Data Hub
Please note:
Data from new waves of the survey is uploaded and made available on
each Friday morning. The survey may be unavailable on the hub on
Thursday afternoon while the upload of new data takes place.
http://www.transportfocus.org.uk/data-hub
24
Survey method
• c.2000 online interviews per week. Using Populus weekly omnibus.
• Nationally representative of Great British population – not all
respondents are passengers on public transport.
• Those who have provided a response are excluded from the subsequent
wave of research.
• The analysis of attitudinal questions excludes responses from those who
don’t have an opinion, or from those who say that the question is not
applicable to them.
• Repeated each week.
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Survey method
• Fieldwork dates:
• week 1: 1-3 May 2020
• week 2: 7-9 May 2020
• week 3: 15-17 May 2020
• week 4: 22-24 May 2020
• week 5: 29-31 May 2020
• week 6: 5-7 June 2020
• week 7: 12-14 June 2020
• week 8: 19-21 June 2020
• week 9: 26-28 June 2020
• week 10: 3-5 July 2020
• week 11: 10-12 July 2020
• week 12: 17-19 July 2020
• week 13: 24-26 July 2020
• week 14: 31 July – 2 August 2020
• week 15: 7-9 August 2020
• week 16: 14-16 August 2020
• week 17: 21-23 August 2020
• week 18: 28-30 August 2020
• week 19: 4-6 September 2020
• week 20: 11-13 September 2020
• week 21: 18-20 September 2020
26
Sample breakdown
Sample size by age groups and gender (weeks 1-10)
TOTAL 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Male Female
Week 12056 234 310 324 377 314 497 1003 1053
Week 22026 242 361 287 332 315 489 1009 1017
Week 32013 223 351 332 350 300 457 1004 1009
Week 42000 232 327 323 318 294 506 1010 990
Week 52016 226 319 324 362 316 469 974 1042
Week 62015 184 329 386 399 291 426 968 1047
Week 72010 240 337 323 325 313 472 994 1016
Week 82046 256 344 334 299 318 495 1064 982
Week 92081 234 358 350 362 320 457 1038 1043
Week
10 2033 306 331 376 319 479 306 1030 1003
27
Sample breakdown
Sample size by age groups and gender (weeks 11-21)
TOTAL 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Male Female
Week
112008 236 328 302 325 320 497 1001 1007
Week
122060 242 330 340 370 326 452 1041 1019
Week
13 2000 223 285 330 338 332 492 1031 969
Week
142000 230 321 314 354 289 492 1036 964
Week
152000 234 325 318 341 273 509 996 1004
Week
162017 309 328 383 284 491 309 995 1022
Week
172012 241 336 310 379 319 427 1001 1011
Week
182000 219 323 288 369 306 495 971 1029
Week
192015 197 332 317 365 319 485 957 1058
Week
202027 223 335 316 334 324 495 990 1037
Week
212050 221 343 316 370 321 479 1004 1046
28
Sample breakdown
Sample size by region (weeks 1-10)
ScotlandNorth
East
North
West
Yorks &
Humber
West
Midlands
East
MidlandsWales Eastern London
South
East
South
West
Week
1185 84 233 164 185 157 110 210 259 287 182
Week
2165 86 240 177 163 161 110 188 229 306 201
Week
3173 87 230 179 184 155 110 193 236 274 192
Week
4194 78 246 148 167 162 101 214 283 237 170
Week
5176 86 246 162 184 149 96 185 285 276 171
Week
6181 82 260 155 191 155 105 171 264 263 188
Week
7176 80 228 160 156 164 111 190 257 298 190
Week
8184 81 249 160 150 157 109 217 301 257 181
Week
9192 85 251 177 174 164 96 195 283 261 203
Week
10168 84 239 173 147 158 106 213 233 313 199
29
Sample breakdown
Sample size by region (weeks 11-21)
ScotlandNorth
East
North
West
Yorks &
Humber
West
Midlands
East
MidlandsWales Eastern London
South
East
South
West
Week
11195 69 212 167 187 159 100 186 292 277 164
Week
12189 92 236 178 180 154 92 180 260 305 194
Week
13 172 87 239 149 155 159 103 199 266 276 195
Week
14174 86 218 173 154 139 110 216 284 252 194
Week
15182 80 209 164 186 150 103 202 258 262 204
Week
16169 82 203 168 179 151 105 209 283 290 178
Week
17178 84 224 164 181 160 100 187 278 277 179
Week
18174 69 241 163 179 163 96 202 258 275 180
Week
19172 87 210 166 172 156 107 198 272 285 190
Week
20183 81 214 179 194 133 106 211 298 263 165
Week
21 181 83 235 181 166 156 109 209 260 280 190
