How are we getting to work in 2024?

Is The Tide Really Changing?

Transport is the biggest emitting sector of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the UK, producing 26% of the country’s total emissions in 2021 reported by the Department for Transport (DfT), within that, 25% of transport emissions come from commuting. The choices we make for getting to and from work significantly impact our wider carbon footprint. While some factors may limit or even remove our choices, it’s crucial to highlight and act where possible to make sustainable travel both desirable and widely adopted.

Mobilityways is a UK-based, climate-focused tech company supporting employers to measure, report and reduce commuter emissions in line with their net zero goals. They have brought together a Commuter Census report detailing the methods used to travel to work and the rational behind the choices people make regarding transport.

Commuter Travel Habits 2024

Data from 10,325 commuters in the UK fed into a 2024 census report from Mobilityways to reveal key insights into commuting habits. Overall, there is a rising trend in sustainable commuting options, though the number of people driving alone remains the single most popular, with 45% still opting for this mode of transport. Sustainable methods have collectively become the most popular; walking has seen a slight increase from 4% in 2023 to 5% in 2024, but overall, active travel methods such as cycling have seen a 21% decrease. This will make it more challenging to achieve the target set out by the National Audit Office (2023), which aims to increase cycling use to 50% by 2030. Data like this is critical for achieving our zero emission future; Sustrans compared case studies and found that with high quality data, early interventions can increase levels of active travel by two-thirds.

Active Travel

Those who actively commute to work by cycling or walking cover average distances of 8 km and 2.3 km, respectively (Mobilityways, 2024). This aligns with the typical 27-minute commute time reported by the Department for Transport, indicating that people are willing to actively commute when feasible. Notably, 23% of commuters who participated in the Commuter Census would consider cycling if safer cycle lanes were available. Interestingly, according to the DfT, cycling trips have sharply increased from 2019 to 2022 by 46%, demonstrating a willingness to use active travel more. For those interested in finding a cycling route for their commute, Cycle Streets offers various route options, including the fastest and quietest routes, along with helpful cycling advice.

Car Sharing

Car sharing has become the most popular alternative transport method, with increased uptake over the past three years. Despite a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, carpooling rates have rebounded according to the Commuter Census 2024, with 6 out of 10 people now considering it, provided a carpooling service is available, such as Liftshare. Additionally, 24% of people would consider car sharing in an electric vehicle, further enhancing its sustainability benefits. In 2023, The Chartered Institution for Highways and Transportation (CIHT) found an 11% growth of car sharing memberships within the UK. The growth in car sharing is similar worldwide. For more information on how carpooling works and to take advantage of some of the benefits, including saving 50% on fuel costs when sharing with just one other person and average savings over £1000 per year by sharing regularly, check out the Liftshare public network and sign up for free.

Commuter Preference and Reasoning

So why do people choose their current mode of transport? “Convenience” and “availability” are the two main reasons according the Commuter Census 2024. “Cost” has now become the third biggest factor, with train fares already deemed unaffordable and a nearly 5% fare increase since early 2024, However, Rail users can still benefit from 1/3^rd off travel with a National Railcard – there are 9 to choose from. Have a look on the National Rail website to find the right one for you for just £30 a year.

What about bus? Currently, 10% of people use the bus for commuting, while 71% would consider it as an alternative mode of transport (Commuter Census, 2024). That is a small increase from 8% in 2022 reported by the DfT. The recent increase in bus usage can be attributed partly by the UK government’s scheme to cap most bus fare routes at £2. If you’d like to learn more about the £2 bus cap, visit Gov.uk. The National Bus Fare Scheme has been extended until the end of December 2024, don’t miss out on cheap bus travel!

Regional Insights

According to the Commuter Census (2024), the East of England has the second highest number of commuting days per year at 155 days, with Northern Ireland leading at 159 day. Changing your transport method from driving to cycling could save 43 kg of CO2 emissions per year (based on a 2km commute by car alone)—that’s equivalent to planting 2 trees. Encouraging your work colleagues, friends, and neighbours to make similar changes could lead to even greater CO2 savings (and more trees). For more details, read the full Commuter Census 2024 and explore tools such as Liftshare to integrate sustainable travel into your personal commute or introduce it to your workplace.