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Travel during Covid-19Tracking research - week 33
18 December 2020
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Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 33 The proportion of people using public transport
has risen in recent weeks
2
15%
11%
5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30 A
ug
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
Use of public transport in last seven days – Great Britain
Public Transport Overall Bus Train
-
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 33 Small proportions have used trains and buses
3
3%
3%
3%0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30 A
ug
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
Use of train in last seven days
Train (outside London) London Underground Train (London)
7%
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30 A
ug
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
Use of bus in last seven days
Bus (outside London) London Bus
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Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 33 Road use is relatively consistent
4
62%
31%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30 A
ug
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
Use of car / van in last seven days
As a driver As a passenger
4%
1%0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30 A
ug
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
Use of taxi / motorcycle in the last seven days
Taxi Motorcycle*
* Separated out at week 12 (17-19 July)
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Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 33 Two in five have made journeys on foot, while
fewer have made journeys by bike
5
42%
6%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30
Au
g
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
Use of other modes of transport in the last seven days
Walking Bicycle
-
79%
25%23%
26%
30%35%
6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30 A
ug
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
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^
6
Reasons for making journeys in the last seven days
Travel during Covid-19: omnibus week 33 Rising proportions have made journeys to visit friends and
relatives or for leisure reasons over recent weeks
* 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)
-
50%
26%
37%
1%
3%
2%
20%23%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1-3
May
7-9
May
15
-17 M
ay
22
-24 M
ay
29
-31 M
ay
5-7
Ju
n
12
-14 J
un
19
-21 J
un
26
-28 J
un
3-5
Ju
l
10
-12 J
ul
17
-19 J
ul
24
-26 J
ul
31
Jul-2 A
ug
7-9
Au
g
14
-16 A
ug
21
-23 A
ug
28
-30 A
ug
4-6
Se
p
11
-13 S
ep
18
-20 S
ep
25
-27 S
ep
2-4
Oct
9-1
1 O
ct
16
-18 O
ct
23
-25 O
ct
30
Oct-
1 N
ov
6-8
Nov
13
-15 N
ov
20
-22 N
ov
27
-29 N
ov
4-6
Dec
11
-13 D
ec
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 33 A quarter have not used public transport in the last
seven days because they do not feel safe doing so. A
similar proportion have been avoiding doing so.
7
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)
-
31%
55%
13%1%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 33
8
Specifically in relation to coronavirus, how safe do you feel at the
moment when using trains?
Base: All making journeys by train, W33 – 101
Almost nine in ten of those making train
journeys in the last seven days felt safe
doing so
7%16% 15%
9% 12% 10%14% 14%
93%84% 85% 91% 88% 90% 86% 86%
85% 87%88% 87% 88% 90% 88% 87%
23-25 Oct 30 Oct-1Nov
6-8 Nov 13-15 Nov 20-22 Nov 27-29 Nov 4-6 Dec 11-13 Dec
% Not very / Not at all safe
Very / Fairly safe
% Very / Fairly safe - aggregated three-week average
Trend - last eight weeks
-
24%
55%
16%
5%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 33
9
Specifically in relation to coronavirus, how safe do you feel at the
moment when using buses?
Base: All making journeys by bus, W33 – 201
17%21% 24% 22% 20% 22% 19% 21%
83% 79% 76% 78% 80% 78% 81% 79%
82% 81% 80% 78% 78% 79% 80% 79%
23-25 Oct 30 Oct-1Nov
6-8 Nov 13-15 Nov 20-22 Nov 27-29 Nov 4-6 Dec 11-13 Dec
% Not very / Not at all safe
Very / Fairly safe
% Very / Fairly safe - aggregated three-week average
Four in five of those making bus journeys
in the last seven days felt safe doing so
Trend - last eight weeks
-
7%
38%
33%
21%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 33
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, W33 – 1,886
42%47% 48% 48% 50% 49% 46% 46% 47% 43% 47% 46% 47% 45% 43% 44% 44% 47% 46% 45%
31Jul-2Aug
7-9Aug
14-16Aug
21-23Aug
28-30Aug
4-6Sep
11-13Sep
18-20Sep
25-27Sep
2-4Oct
9-11Oct
16-18Oct
23-25Oct
30Oct-1Nov
6-8Nov
13-15Nov
20-22Nov
27-29Nov
4-6Dec
11-13Dec
10
Almost half of those who have not used a
train in the last seven days would feel
safe doing so
Trend - % safe
^ Reference to coronavirus specifically added at week 16 (14-16 August)
-
11
Two in five of those who have not used a
bus in the last seven days would feel
safe doing so
^ Reference to coronavirus specifically added at week 16 (14-16 August)
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, W33 – 1,786
6%
31%
37%
26%
Very Safe Fairly safe Not very safe Not at all safe
Week 33
38% 41% 42% 40% 38% 37% 38% 39% 39% 37% 41% 37% 35% 37% 39%40% 39% 37%
14-16Aug
21-23Aug
28-30Aug
4-6Sep
11-13Sep
18-20Sep
25-27Sep
2-4Oct
9-11Oct
16-18Oct
23-25Oct
30Oct-1Nov
6-8Nov
13-15Nov
20-22Nov
27-29Nov
4-6Dec
11-13Dec
Trend - % safe
-
12
Three in five agree that they think public
transport is cleaner now than it was before
the pandemic
I think that public transport is cleaner now than it was
before the pandemic
Base: W33 1,422
11% 46% 30% 7% 5%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
* Denotes statistically significant difference from respondents overall
63%
58%
57%
57%
Those aged 45-54*
Those who have used public transport inthe last 7 days
Those who previously used publictransport regularly
Respondents overall
% Agree
-
13
69% 67% 68% 68% 62% 67% 70%
11-13 Sep 18-20 Sep 25-27 Sep 2-4 Oct 9-11 Oct 16-18 Oct 11-13 Dec
% Agree
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-19
Base: W33 1,944
31% 39% 16% 7% 7%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
* Denotes statistically significant difference from respondents overall
73%
73%
76%
79%
Those who were not working prior toMarch 2020
Women*
Those with a disability*
Those aged 65+*
% Agree
-
14
Three in five of those who used public transport
regularly before March this year agree that they will
use public transport as much, or more than they did
previously when enough people have been vaccinated
When enough people have been vaccinated against COVID-
19 then I expect to use public transport as much, or more
than I did before March this year.
Base: W33 1,562
11% 34% 31% 12% 11%
Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither / nor Tend to disagree Strongly disagree
Base excludes don’t know/not applicable answers
* Denotes statistically significant difference from respondents overall
59%
59%
56%
63%
61%
45%
Those in London*
Those aged 18-24*
Those without access to a car*
Those who have used public transport inthe last seven days*
Those who used public transport regularlybefore March 2020*
Respondents overall
% Agree
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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’
15
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
-
16
Survey method and sample
breakdown – week 33
• c.2000 online interviews per week. Using Yonder Consulting 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.
• Fieldwork repeated each weekend. Week 33 fieldwork: 11-13 December
• The analysis of attitudinal questions excludes responses from those who
don’t have an opinion or who say that the question is not applicable to
them
Sample size by age groups and gender
TOTAL 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Male Female
Week
332,016 229 323 329 385 286 464 1,008 1,008
Sample size by region
ScotlandNorth
East
North
West
Yorks &
Humber
West
Midlands
East
MidlandsWales Eastern London
South
East
South
West
Week
33160 86 185 170 188 133 127 194 291 278 204