run-commuting survey press release
TRANSCRIPT
8/11/2019 Run-Commuting Survey Press Release
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/run-commuting-survey-press-release 1/2
FIRST EVER SURVEY INTO RUN-COMMUTING REVEALS RAPID GROWTH IN
PARTICIPATION AND PUTS THE IMPETUS ON EMPLOYERS TO DO MORE
The survey reveals that the proportion of women running to work is higher than
for cycling to work, and over two thirds of run-commuters are aged 30-44.
LONDON 6 OCTOBER 2014: Research carried out by Simon Cook (Royal Holloway, University of
London), in partnership with run2work and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council
(ESRC), indicates the number of people choosing to run to or from work as an alternative mode
of transport has nearly tripled in the last two years. The physical (98%) and mental (96%)
benefits of run-commuting are two main reasons for this growth in popularity.
The first ever survey of run-commuters in the UK, predominantly in London, reveals:
60% of people who are run-commuting have been doing so for less than two years.
97% of run-commuters say that workplace showers and lockers are needed to encourage
more people to run-commute. The onus is on employers to do more to support run-
commuting which will have knock-on benefits for encouraging staff to be active and
healthy at work.
Running to work has a more even gender balance compared to cycle-commuting. 35% of
run-commuters are women, compared to just 27% for cycle-commuting.
For many people who run-commute, it has become a regular habit, with 42% running to
or from work two or three times a week, and 15% two or three times a month. Only 10%
run to or from work every day. There seems to be little seasonal variation in this with
84% run-commuting all year round.
51% of run-commuters run both to and from work, and 26% normally run from home to
work.
8/11/2019 Run-Commuting Survey Press Release
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92% of run-commuters are in full time employment leading to high run-commuting rates
mid-week. Tuesdays (50%), Wednesdays (55%) and Thursdays (58%) are the most popular
days people choose to run-commute.
84% of run-commuters run with a backpack and 86% say that making the costs of shoes
and equipment for running to work tax-free would encourage more people to run-
commute.
Simon Cook, a social geographer, who led the study said of the results: “This is the first time run -
commuting has been studied anywhere in the world, as far as we’re aware, which marks this as
an important piece of research. Run-commuting is an emerging transport practice that offers
much potential as an alternative urban transport mode and reimagines what commuting can be.
It is certainly something that warrants much further study so it can be better accounted,
understood and planned for.”
Gordon Lott, founder of run2work (www.run2work.com), said “This research shows run-
commuting is appealing to men and women of all ages and there’s a clear message to employers
and Government – you can do much more to enable people to be active and healthy. This
includes establishing minimum requirements for showers in the workplace and making the costs
of running to work tax-free, just like Cycling to Work. We also ask the ONS (Office for National
Statistics) to help us measure and track growth in run-commuting and include running to work in
the Population Census and National Travel Survey, among others.”
Notes to Editors
The survey results are based on preliminary findings from the project ‘Running as Transport: a
geographical provocation’ an ESRC-funded project undertaken by Simon Cook, PhD student in
the Department of Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London. The distribution of the survey was aided by run2work Group (www.run2work.com)
In total 235 responses were collected between July and September 2014, with the majority of
respondents being based in London.
For further information contact:
o Simon Cook, Tel: 07999 069 644 or email: [email protected]
o Gordon Lott, Tel: 07775 848 525 or email: [email protected]