National Travel Attitudes Study (NTAS) Collects Data on the Attitudes of Individuals Aged 16 and Over Across England
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Statistical Release 28 January 2021 National Travel Attitudes Study: Wave 4 (Final) About this release Increased importance of walking and cycling The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic The National Travel Attitudes had a substantial impact on active travel. Pre-pandemic walkers and cyclists Study (NTAS) is an online and When interviewed between May and telephone survey which covers September 2020, 34% of cyclists reported walk more than responses from individuals aged 38% to cycle more and 38% of those who walk before pandemic 16 and over in England, drawn from people who have previously as a means of transport reported to walk cycle more than responded to the National Travel more than before the outbreak of the 34% before pandemic Survey (NTS). coronavirus. This release covers the fnal Decline in trip rates during version of the fourth NTAS, coronavirus pandemic Trip rates compared Wave 4, and centres around During the frst sampling period (May- with NTS 2019 travel attitudes in relation to the July 2020), the average number of trips May-Jul 2020 coronavirus pandemic and travel to visit friends and relatives fell by 59% restrictions. A provisional version -59% was published on October the 8th compared with data from the National 2020. The survey was conducted Travel Survey 2019. During the second Aug-Sep 2020 in two sampling stages, the frst sampling period (August-September one running from May till July 2020), the diference was less substantial, -36% 2020 and the second one running down 36% compared with the NTS 2019. from August till September 2020. May-Jul 2020 In total, 5,299 people completed NTAS Wave 4 respondents reported to go the survey. out for exercise more than twice as often +189% than respondents from the NTS 2019: a Aug-Sep 2020 In this publication 189% increase in the frst sample, and Travel behaviour during COVID-19 138% increase in the second sample. +138% pandemic p2 Concerns around transport p6 Two independent samples Changes in travel behaviour p7 Data collection was conducted in two sampling stages between May and Compliance and regulations p8 September 2020. While most charts refer to the full sample, there are some Leisure and holidays p9 charts which only cover either the frst (May-July) or the second (August- September) sample. Those charts are either marked with (Sample 1) or Methodology p11 (Sample 2). All other charts are marked with (Sample 1+2). Strengths and weaknesses of the data p12 Coronavirus statistics Users and uses of the data p12 Further statistics on transport by mode during the coronavirus (COVID-19) Background notes p13 pandemic are published weekly by the Department for Transport. RESPONSIBLE STATISTICIAN: Philipp Zintl [email protected] FURTHER INFORMATION: Media: 020 7944 3066 Public: 020 7944 3077 Travel behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic Questions in this category relate to the impact the pandemic and imposed travel restrictions have had on the travel behaviour of respondents. The section includes questions regarding the general experience of respondents during the outbreak, number of conducted journeys per week, the frequency with which certain modes of transport were used and the purpose that conducted journeys had. When asked about their experience of the coronavirus outbreak, around two-thirds of respondents from the frst sample (surveyed between May and July 2020), said that they only left their home for essential travel and daily exercise. A stricter approach was practised by 16% who reported to either self-isolate and did not plan to leave the house for a week or two (4%), or planned to not go out at all until restrictions were lifted (12%). The remaining 18% practised a less strict approach with 14% saying that they were travelling and working outside their home, and 4% saying that they were travelling and leaving their home as normal. Respondents from the second sample, which were surveyed between August and September 2020, reported overall to travel more often with 30% saying that they either travelled and worked outside of their home or travelled as usual, 58% saying that they left home only for essential travel and 11% saying that they either did not go out for a week or two or planned not going out until restrictions were lifted. Chart 1: "Which of the following best refects your current experience of the outbreak?" (Sample 1+2) May-Jul 12 4 65 14 4 Not going Not going Travelling/ Leaving Leaving home out until out for a working home and only for essential restrictions week or outside travelling travel/exercise are lifted two home as usual Jul-Sep 7 4 58 19 11 Travel restrictions during coronavirus pandemic On the announcement of the 23rd March, all non-essential shops and businesses were closed, and residents were instructed that they “must stay at home” except for “very limited purposes” including essential food and medicine shopping, and one outdoor form of exercise per day. Travel restrictions were limited to overnight stays on 1st June. On 4th July, most travel restrictions were lifted and only advice to refrain from non-essental journeys and limitations with regards to meeting other people remained. A complete list of regulations in connection to travel restrictions can be viewed here. National Travel Attitude Study: Wave 4 - Page 2 Households with more vehicles were more likely to travel and work outside of the home than households with fewer vehicles. In households with two or more vehicles, 20% of people said that they travelled and worked outside of the home (but isolated otherwise), compared to 10% of households with no vehicles. Similarly, only 6% of respondents from households with two or more vehicles planned to self-isolate until restrictions lifted, compared with 16% of respondents from households with no vehicles. Chart 2: General lockdown travel experience by car ownership (Sample 1 + 2) Two or more cars in household 6 2 63 20 9 Not going out until restrictions are lifted Not going out for a week or two One car in household 11 5 61 16 8 Leaving home only for essential travel/exercise Travellin/working outside home No car in household 16 5 65 10 4 Leaving home and travelling as usual Chart 3: General lockdown travel experience by Further analysis shows that respondents from income group (Sample 1+2) lower income households travelled less than respondents from other income groups, while respondents from higher income households More strict Only essential travel Less strict <£14,999 22 65 14 reported more often to have travelled like before the pandemic. While nearly a quarter of £15,000 to £24,999 14 64 22 respondents from households with an income of less than £15,000 either planned to isolate for £25,000 to £34,999 12 57 31 a couple of weeks or until lockdown was over, this fgure decreases to 6-7% for respondents £35,000 to £49,999 9 58 32 from households with an income higher than £50,000 to £74,999 7 64 29 £50,000. Likewise, 14% of respondents from households in the lowest income group reported £75,000+ 6 67 27 to either travel or work outside the home or travelled as they normally would, compared to 32% of respondents from households with an income between £35,000 and £49,999, and 27% of respondents from households with an income higher than £75,000. National Travel Attitude Study: Wave 4 - Page 3 Chart 4: In the last seven days, how many times, if at When the reasons for leaving home were all, have you travelled from your home for any of the analysed, only grocery shopping (75%) and following purposes? (Sample 1) Once or more None exercise (62%) were named by more than half To go food or grocery 75 25 shopping of the frst sample (surveyed between May and To do exercise 62 38 July 2020) as the reason for leaving their house in the seven days prior to completing the survey. To visit friends or relatives 36 64 Nearly a third (31%) reported that they had left the To go to work 31 69 house to go to work at least once, 30% said the To go shopping for things 30 70 same about shopping for things other than food other than food and 36% had left to visit friends and relatives. For a medical appointment 14 86 Medical appointments (14%), going out to eat To go eating or drinking 6 94 or drink (6%) and travelling to school, college or To travel to school, college or 4 96 university (4%) were mentioned less often. university Chart 5: In the last seven days, how many times, if at With the exception of doing exercise, all travel all, have you travelled from your home for any of the purposes saw increases among respondents following purposes? (Sample 2) from the second sample (surveyed between Once or more None To go food or grocery 82 18 August and September 2020) compared to the shopping frst sample. The highest increase was seen with To do exercise 56 44 regards to purposes that were considered non- To visit friends or relatives 51 49 essential during the frst lockdown period, such To go shopping for things 46 54 as going out for eating or drinking which rose from other than food 6% to 38% and shopping for things other than To go eating or drinking 38 62 food which rose from 30% to 46%. With regards To go to work 37 63 to eating and drinking, it should be kept in mind For a medical appointment 17 83 that the second survey period fully overlapped To travel to school, college with the 'Eat out to help out' scheme.