27
Travel during Covid-19 Tracking research - week 16 21 August 2020
Travel during Covid-19 Tracking research - week 16
21 August 2020
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Use of public transport is increasing.
2
1%
4%
5%
1%
5%
6%
1%
4%
4%
1%
4%
5%
1%
4%
5%
2%
5%
6%
2%
6%
8%
2%
6%
8%
2%
6%
8%
3%
8%
10%
2%
8%
11%
4%
9%
12%
4%
8%
12%
6%
11%
16%
5%
11%
15%
7%
13%
18%
Train - Great Britain
Bus - Great Britain
Public transport - Great Britain
Public transport used in last 7 days
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Use of trains, both within and outside London, is
increasing.
3
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
2%
1%
1%
1%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
2%
1%
3%
2%
3%
3%
2%
3%
5%
3%
3%
3%
4%
4%
5%
Train (London)
Underground
Train (outside London)
Public transport used in last 7 days
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16Use of buses outside London is increasing.
4
2%
2%
2%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
3%
2%
3%
3%
4%
3%
3%
2%
3%
4%
5%
3%
5%
3%
5%
4%
5%
4%
8%
5%
6%
5%
8%
Bus London
Bus (outsideLondon)
Public transport used in last 7 days
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Road use is consistent.
5
15%
51%
14%
48%
15%
53%
18%
53%
17%
53%
23%
54%
20%
57%
23%
57%
22%
59%
24%
59%
27%
60%
28%
61%
30%
59%
34%
61%
34%
62%
32%
61%
Road passenger
Road - driver
Road use - last 7 days
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
* Separated out at week 12
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Small proportions used taxis and motorcycles in
the last seven days.
6
2%
1%
2%
2%
2%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
1%
4%
1%
4%
2%
5%
1%
4%
1%
5%
Motorcycle*
Taxi
Road use - last 7 days
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 The reported volume of traffic as increased over
time, but is consistent with recent weeks.
7
3%
19%
78%
2%
27%
70%
5%
33%
63%
4%
38%
58%
4%
42%
53%
5%
43%
52%
8%
49%
43%
9%
55%
36%
11%
57%
32%
9%
56%
34%
14%
60%
26%
14%
57%
29%
15%
62%
24%
17%
61%
22%
19%
60%
21%
16%
61%
22%
Congested /Heavy
Moderate
Light
Reported level of traffic
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 A half have made journeys on foot.
8
18%
6%
46%
22%
8%
40%
19%
7%
39%
18%
8%
39%
16%
9%
43%
15%
7%
42%
13%
7%
41%
12%
8%
42%
11%
8%
42%
11%
9%
42%
9%
7%
45%
9%
7%
40%
10%
8%
41%
6%
8%
47%
6%
8%
47%
6%
7%
47%
NONE
Bike
Walking
Other transport used in last 7 days
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
9
13%
22%
15%
25%
80%
15%
26%
77%
16%
23%
78%
15%
23%
80%
17%
26%
74%
22%
26%
76%
20%
28%
74%
20%
29%
73%
20%
30%
77%
24%
30%
78%
22%
32%
72%
22%
29%
75%
23%
29%
77%
25%
30%
75%
25%
32%
74%
Travelling on personal business(doctor, hospital, bank etc.)
Travelling to or from place of work
Shopping for essentials / groceries*
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Reasons for making journeys in the last seven days
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Travelling to shop for essentials/or groceries is the
most common reason for making journeys in the last
seven days. Travel to work increasing over time.
*Shopping’ weeks 1-9
10
16%
26%
15%
30%
15%
32%
16%
36%
16%
35%
20%
33%
22%
37%
19%
36%
21%
27%
15%
35%
27%
23%
37%
27%
26%
42%
25%
30%
41%
24%
33%
46%
23%
37%
43%
23%
38%
45%
To travel to exercise*
To travel for other leisure reasons suchas eating out, visiting attractions etc.
Visiting friends or relatives*
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Reasons for making journeys in the last seven days
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 More people are making journeys for eating out, visiting
attractions etc.
*Text changes at week 10
New code added at w10
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Half have no reason to use public transport. A quarter
didn’t use public transport because they don’t feel safe
to do so.
11
39%
53%
44%
55%
36%
56%
36%
51%
37%
49%
36%
55%
33%
52%
29%
55%
29%
52%
23%
30%
49%
24%
35%
49%
19%
30%
50%
23%
25%
50%
28%
27%
49%
28%
29%
49%
26%
26%
50%
Because I have been avoiding publictransport*
Because I don't feel safe using publictransport at the moment
Because I had no reason to make ajourney using public transport
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Reasons public transport not used in the last seven days
*Wording amended at week 10 and at week 13
New code added at w10
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Two in five have driven in the last week rather than use
public transport.
12
28%
26%
27%
27%
26%
30%
34%
31%
31%
33%
35%
1%
38%
1%
34%
1%
36%
1%
39%
1%
39%
I have used a motorcycle instead
I have used a car / van instead
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Reasons public transport not used in the last seven days
New code added at w12
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 Almost one in five walked for journeys rather than
using public transport.
13
3%
18%
3%
19%
3%
17%
4%
18%
4%
22%
3%
18%
4%
20%
4%
20%
4%
20%
4%
20%
4%
20%
4%
19%
5%
19%
4%
18%
4%
19%
4%
18%
I have cycled instead
I have walked instead
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Reasons public transport not used in the last seven days
14%
5%8% 8%
6%9% 8%
19%
23%
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
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 A quarter of respondents overall are unsure of when
they will next use a bus.
14
Anticipated future use of bus
All respondents – 2000
36%
58%
56%
56%
26%
Those aged 18-24*
Those in London*
Those without access to a car*
Those using buses regularly beforelockdown*
Overall
% In the next month or sooner
*Denotes statistically significant difference
7%
4%
8%
12%
9%
16%
10%11%
23%
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
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 16 A quarter of respondents overall are unsure of when
they will next use a train.
15
Anticipated future use of train
All respondents – 2000
34%
51%
30%
48%
20%
Those aged 18-24*
Those in London*
Those without access to a car*
Those using trains regularly beforelockdown*
Overall
% In the next month or sooner
* Denotes statistically significant difference
6%
20%
9%
50%
60%
52%
43%
20%
39%
Those not using publictransport in the last 7
days
Those using publictransport in the last
seven days
Overall - W16
More safe Equally safe Less safe
16
Four in ten think that using public
transport is less safe than visiting other
places such as shops and restaurants
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, W16 – 2000
*Denotes statistically significant difference
^Those in intermediate or higher managerial or professional positions
46%
42%
44%
45%
Those with a physicaldisability*
Those with access to a car*
Those in social grade AB*^
Those aged 55-64*
% Less safe
26% 46% 17% 6% 5%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
17
I will feel safer using public transport with passengers
wearing face coverings. Base: W16 1838
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
*Denotes statistically significant difference
More than seven in ten agree that they
will feel safer using public transport if
passengers wear face coverings
65% 65% 69% 65% 70% 72% 72%
W10 W11 W12 W13 W14 W15 W16
% Agree
69%
74%
81%
88%
65%
80%
Those in Scotland
Those in Wales
Those in London*
Those using public transport in the last 7days*
Those not using public transport regularlybefore lockdown
Those using public transport regularlybefore lockdown*
% Agree
10% 28% 22% 21% 19%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
18
Two in five agree that they have few
concerns around using public transport
I have few concerns about using public transport now, if I
have the need to do so. Base: W16 1818
39% 40% 40% 40% 38%
W12 W13 W14 W15 W16
% Agree
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers.
* Denotes statistically significant difference
34%
28%
49%
34%
56%
33%
43%
Those in Scotland
Those in Wales
Those in London*
Those not using public transport in the last7 days
Those using public transport in the last 7days*
Those not using public transport regularlybefore lockdown
Those using public transport regularlybefore lockdown*
% Agree
6% 18% 20% 17% 39%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
Around a quarter say that in the future they are
more likely to cycle for journeys where they
previously used public transport
19
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
* Denotes statistically significant difference. Question dropped w10-w14
27% 24% 28% 26% 27% 27% 24%
W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W15 W16
In the future I will cycle more for journeys where I would have
used public transport before. Base: W16 1104
% Agree
19%
28%
36%
28%
29%
32%
Those in Scotland
Those in Wales
Those in London*
Those without access to a car
Those aged 25-34
Those aged 18-24*
% Agree
13% 31% 30% 14% 13%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
20
Over four in ten say that in the future they are
more likely to walk for journeys where they
previously used public transport
46% 43% 47% 45% 48% 46% 43%
W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W15 W16
In the future I will walk more for journeys where I would
have used public transport before. Base: W16 1523
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
* Denotes statistically significant difference. Question dropped w10-w14
% Agree
35%
44%
57%
48%
42%
49%
61%
Those in Scotland
Those in Wales
Those in London*
Those without access to a car
Those aged 35-44
Those aged 25-34
Those aged 18-24*
% Agree
25% 24% 17% 9% 25%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
21
Half say they expect to work from home
more often in the future
40% 47% 46% 52% 49% 50% 47% 50% 49% 49%
W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W15 W16
I expect to work from home more often in the future.
Base: W16 1080
% Agree
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
* Denotes statistically significant difference. Question dropped w9-w14
43%
47%
65%
57%
59%
51%
Those in Scotland
Those in Wales
Those in London*
Those in social class AB*
Those aged 25-34*
Those aged 18-24
% Agree
22
Transport Focus Data Hub
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’
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.
23
Survey method
• c.2000 online interviews per week. Using Populus weekly omnibus.
Repeated each week. 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.
• 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
24
Sample breakdown
Sample size by age groups and gender (1)
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
25
Sample breakdown
Sample size by age groups and gender (2)
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
26
Sample breakdown
Sample size by region (1)
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
27
Sample breakdown
Sample size by region (2)
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
16 169 82 203 168 179 151 105 209 283 290 178
