Travel during Covid-19 Tracking research - week 20

18 September 2020

Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 20 Use of public transport is increasing over time,

but has remained consistent since last week

2

19%

14%

7%

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 20 Use of train and bus has increased over time

3

5%

4%

4%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

Use of train in last seven days

Train (outside London) London Underground Train (London)

8%

6%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

Use of bus in last seven days

Bus (outside London) London Bus

Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 20 More than half 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

11%16%

7% 7%

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 – 453

14%17%

10% 9%

51%

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 – 378

Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 20 Road use has increased slightly over time

5

62%

34%

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%

2%

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 19 Congested and heavy traffic continues to

increase

6

21%

63%

15%

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 20 Less than half have made journeys on foot and

fewer have made journeys by bike

7

47%

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%

45%

39%

22%

29%

35%

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 20 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

* 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 20 More than a third have visited a restaurant in the last

seven days. Three in ten have had visitors from outside

their household in their home

9

Leisure activities enjoyed in last 7 days

40%

35%

29%

19%

8%

5%

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

47%

24%

47%

1%

4%

3%

22%

26%

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 20 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 20 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

5%

30%

35%

37%

40%

4%

22%

47%

24%

26%

I have cycled instead

I have walked instead

I have used a car instead

I don't feel safe using public transportat the moment

I have been avoiding public transport

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 20 Almost three fifths 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

70%

67%

81%

57%

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

35%

11% 11%7% 6%

8%

3%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 bus a few times in a typical month prior to lockdown – 732

Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 20 A half 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

73%

58%

65%

81%

52%

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

17%

13%

22%

12%10% 9%

3%

14%

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 – 496

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 is growing slowly

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%

7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep

41%48%

43%50% 46%

52%

7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep

% in the next month or sooner

% in the next month or sooner

28%

57%

14%1%

Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe

Week 20

15

Specifically in relation to coronavirus*, how safe do you feel at the

moment when using trains?

Base: All making journeys by train, W20 – 147

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%

85% 79% 78%94% 91% 84% 85%

85% 82% 80%82% 87% 89% 87%

31 Jul-2 Aug 7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep

% Not very / Not at all safe

Very / Fairly safe

% Very / Fairly safe - aggregated three-week average

7%

39%

36%

18%

Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe

Week 20

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, W20 – 1,864

42% 47% 48% 48% 50% 49% 46%

31 Jul-2Aug

7-9 Aug 14-16Aug

21-23Aug

28-30Aug

4-6 Sep 11-13Sep

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

11%

5%

15%

18%

46%

36%

56%

59%

32%

39%

25%

21%

12%

20%

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

16%

61%

20%

2%

Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe

Week 20

17

Specifically in relation to coronavirus, how safe do you feel at the

moment when using buses?

Base: All making journeys by bus, W20 – 296

21%13%

19% 18%23%

79% 87% 81% 82% 77%

79% 83% 82% 83% 80%

14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 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, W20 – 1,715

6%

33%

39%

22%

Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe

Week 20 38% 41% 42% 40% 38%

14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep

% safe

5%

4%

9%

12%

35%

28%

54%

59%

42%

42%

31%

26%

18%

26%

5%

3%

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

8%

22%

11%

48%

63%

51%

44%

15%

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 (2,011), those using public transport (401),

those not using public transport (1,514)

* Denotes statistically significant difference from respondents overall

46%

42%

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%

66%

60% 60%

65%63% 64% 63%

15%17%

20%

13%16% 16% 15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

31 Jul-2 Aug 7-9 Aug 14-16 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 4-6 Sep 11-13 Sep

More safe Equally safe Less safe

The perceived safety of public transport

as compared to shops, restaurants, pubs

etc is 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 - 401

29% 27% 13% 8% 22%

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%

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

I expect to work from home more often in the future.

Base: W20 1,014

% 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)

62%

64%

66%

67%

70%

61%

Those in Scotland

Those in Wales

Those in London*

Those in social class AB*

Those aged 25-34*

Those aged 18-24

% Agree

26% 43% 14% 10% 7%

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

I am avoiding doing things that I don’t see as absolutely

necessary because I’m worried about COVID

Base: W20 1,982

Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers

76%

76%

75%

77%

71%

69%

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.

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.

25

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

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 11-19)

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

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 11-19)

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

20 183 81 214 179 194 133 106 211 298 263 165