Centre42E Team
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Commuter Census is a survey that provides data and analysis on how people travel together (commute to work), assess their preferred mode of transportation and tries to estimate distance travelled. In the United Kingdom, the 2024 Commuter Census was run by Mobilityways and has interviewed over 10.325 participants (commuters).
The 2024 census provides a detailed analysis of changing habits to commute, preferences, and their modal shifts in recent years. Key findings of the 2024 Commuter Census display a significant move toward embracing sustainable commuting practices that are driven by environmental awareness coupled with economic factors, and government policies.
Commuter Census’ key insights
Shifting modes of commuting: The 2024 Commuter Census underlines that the dominant mode of transport is driving alone in petrol or diesel vehicles. While this mode of transport represented 43% in 2023, it has largely decreased in 2024 to 38. The report shows that carpooling among colleagues (teammates) is increasingly returning to the pre-pandemic levels. Driving alone in Electric Vehicle (EV) has stalled around 4% between 2023-2024. Carpooling, including EV has increased from 12% to 15% between 2023 and 2024.
Government policy & commuting choices: As the UK Government has adopted a strategy to keep buses’ fares at £2, commuters have positively responded and adopted to commute by bus. 17% of participants in this Census claimed to have adopted to use the bus as their main means of transport. On the contrary, the increase in trains has led to the reduction of commuters who used this mode of transport.
Work from home or in office: As the world is recovering from the Covid pandemic, participants in this Census show that many have started to work in their offices compared to work from home. However, many participants in the Census still prefer a hybrid work model with three days at home and two in the office.
Commute and the environmental impact: On average and annually, a commuter has produced 849 kg of CO₂e. The Census shows that there are some discrepancies across region with the Northern Ireland being at the top of where commuter produces a huge number of CO₂e.
Active Travel Barriers: Insights from the Census show that active travel (walking, cycling) has not changed much. Cycling has decreased by 21%, while walking/running has seen a marginal increase of 5%. One of the concerns is the safety concerns, inadequate cycling infrastructure, and long travel distances that are hard travel with cycling or walking.
Sustainable commuting and employers: 50% of participants in this Census think that employers could do more to support efforts that lead to sustainable commuting initiatives and encourage carpooling. One of the participants in this Census suggests that
Companies should do their bit to reward those who use sustainable ways of transport. I would take a more sustainable method of transport if I could. I simply can’t afford electric cars or hybrids, and public transport is way too expensive when you add it up!
Challenges around public Transport: Despite increasing interest in commuting with buses, around 43% of participants are willing to use buses or EV buses, they raised issues around convenience, availability of this model of transport as well as difficulties that some public transports do not come close to their workplaces. These challenges show that public transport means are unlikely to be used by commuters.
Conclusion
The 2024 Commuter Census highlight that “transport is the biggest source of UK carbon emissions. In the United Kingdom (UK), commuting accounts for 18 billion kg of CO 2e per year – 25% of transport emissions.”
This shows how carpooling could be one of the best alternatives to reduce C02e. As a matter of fact, when asked about transport models they would consider as an alternative to their current mode of commuting, 60% of participants referred to the “carpooling and EV carpooling combined”.
From The report, it is important to underscore that #Rideshare, #Carpooling and #Carsharing would be initiatives that the government and local authorities should support the preservation of the environment. Connect, Share and Save. #Rideshare #UK #Carsharing #Carpooling.
C42E Ltd Team
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