UK Travel Habits: 2021 & 2022 NTS Insights

The way we move around Great Britain is constantly evolving, influenced by everything from daily routines to global events. To truly understand these dynamics, the National Travel Survey (NTS) stands as a crucial barometer, offering an in-depth look at personal travel behaviours across England. This comprehensive household survey, conducted through detailed interviews and seven-day travel diaries, meticulously captures the patterns and trends of how residents navigate their journeys. The releases for 2021 and 2022 provide particularly fascinating insights, as they reflect a period still significantly shaped by the lingering effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, presenting a unique snapshot of a nation adapting its travel habits.

As we delve into the core findings of these reports, it's essential to appreciate the context. The NTS, a continuous survey since 1988, has consistently provided invaluable data for policymakers, urban planners, and transport providers. Its data helps to describe travel patterns, monitor trends in sustainable modes, assess equality impacts, and contribute to policy evaluation. The 2021 and 2022 findings, while offering a glimpse into recovery, also underscore the profound shifts that occurred in our travel landscape, prompting a closer look at everything from our daily commutes to our reliance on various transport modes, including the often-overlooked yet vital role of taxis and minicabs.

Navigating the Pandemic's Wake: Survey Methodology in 2021 & 2022

The operational landscape for the National Travel Survey underwent significant adaptations in both 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to March 2020, fieldwork for the NTS primarily involved face-to-face interviews. However, with the introduction of public health restrictions, the survey pivoted to a predominantly telephone-based data collection method. In 2020, a 'push-to-telephone' approach was adopted, where participants were encouraged to complete interviews over the phone.

For the 2021 survey, this approach was complemented by a 'knock-to-nudge' strategy. Trained interviewers conducted doorstep recruitment, engaging with potential participants in person before conducting the full interview over the telephone. This hybrid method aimed to increase response rates, which had naturally seen a significant dip in 2020. Indeed, the efforts paid off: 2021 saw 9,971 individuals participate, a substantial 60% increase compared to 2020's 6,239 individuals. While this marked a positive step towards recovery, it still represented a 31% decrease from the pre-pandemic 2019 levels of 14,356 individuals.

The 2022 survey continued to operate under these adapted methodologies, although with a greater sense of normality returning, allowing for more robust data collection. However, the Department for Transport consistently advises caution when interpreting the results for both 2020, 2021, and 2022. The altered collection methods and fluctuating response rates mean that these specific years may be less representative of the broader population of England compared to pre-pandemic data. Despite these caveats, the NTS remains an invaluable resource for understanding the evolving dynamics of personal travel, providing critical insights into how Britons adapted their journeys during a period of significant societal change.

Understanding How We Travel: Mode Share Insights

The NTS provides a detailed breakdown of how people choose to travel, categorising modes into active, private, and public transport. This 'mode share' offers a fascinating insight into our collective travel preferences, revealing patterns influenced by age, gender, mobility, and geographical location.

Active Travel: Pushing Pedals and Pounding Pavements

Active transport modes, primarily walking and cycling, showed varying adoption across different demographics. In 2021, children aged 0 to 16 were the most avid users, with 38% of their trips utilising active modes. This proportion slightly decreased for those aged 17 to 49 (32% to 34%) and reached its lowest for the 50 to 69 age group at 29%, before seeing a slight increase to 32% for those aged 70 and over. By 2022, children aged 0 to 16 continued to lead, making 42% of their trips actively, while those aged 17 to 20 showed the smallest proportion at 28%. Geographically, London consistently stood out, with its residents making the highest proportion of trips via active modes – 43% in 2021 and 42% in 2022, reflecting the capital's infrastructure and urban density.

Private Transport: The Dominance of the Car

Private transport modes, predominantly cars, motorcycles, and other personal vehicles, remain the backbone of UK travel. In 2021, individuals aged 60 to 69 made the largest share of trips using private modes, accounting for 66%. Conversely, the 17 to 20 age group recorded the smallest proportion at 47%. The West Midlands consistently showed the highest reliance on private transport, with 71% of trips in 2021 and 69% in 2022. For those with mobility difficulties, private transport played an even more significant role, accounting for 64% of their trips in 2021 and 65% in 2022, compared to 60% for those without such difficulties.

Public Transport: Buses, Trains, and the Role of Taxis

Public transport modes, encompassing buses, the London Underground, rail, and notably, taxi or minicab services, are crucial for urban mobility. The 17 to 20 age group consistently made the highest proportion of their trips using public transport – 21% in 2021 and 22% in 2022, indicating a strong reliance on these services before widespread car ownership. Unsurprisingly, London led the way in public transport usage, with 21% of trips in 2021 and an impressive 25% in 2022, a testament to its extensive network. For those with mobility difficulties, public transport accounted for a slightly higher share of trips (9% in 2021, 11% in 2022) compared to those without (7% in 2021, 8% in 2022), highlighting its importance for accessibility.

Interestingly, the mode share between active, private, and public transport was remarkably similar for both males and females. In 2021, both sexes showed approximately 33% active, 60% private, and 7% public transport use. In 2022, females reported 33% active, 58% private, and 9% public, while males were at 32% active, 60% private, and 8% public. This consistency suggests that fundamental travel preferences, when aggregated across the population, do not vary significantly by gender.

The Length of Our Journeys: Short Hops and Long Hauls

The NTS also sheds light on the typical lengths of our journeys, revealing a propensity for shorter trips. In both 2021 and 2022, most trips were relatively short, underscoring the importance of local travel and last-mile solutions.

In 2021, a quarter (25%) of all trips were under 1 mile, and nearly three-quarters (72%) were under 5 miles. These figures remained broadly consistent in 2022, with 26% of trips under 1 mile and 71% under 5 miles, echoing patterns observed in 2020 and 2019. This consistency highlights a fundamental aspect of daily travel: many of our movements are localised.

For these short trips, walking was overwhelmingly the preferred mode. In 2021, 82% of trips under one mile were walks, a proportion that held steady in 2022 at 83%. This indicates the enduring significance of pedestrian travel for very short distances. Nearly all recorded walks in the NTS (99.8% in both years) were under 5 miles, solidifying walking's role in local, convenient travel.

However, for all other distance bands beyond the shortest walks, the car emerged as the dominant mode. While 61% of car trips in 2021 and 60% in 2022 were under 5 miles, the car's versatility allows it to cover a broader spectrum of distances compared to walking.

Conversely, rail travel primarily served longer journeys. In 2021, almost three-quarters (73%) of rail trips were 10 miles and over, rising slightly to 75% in 2022. This demonstrates rail's vital role in connecting towns and cities over significant distances, especially as commuting patterns began to normalise post-pandemic. Bus trips also tended to be shorter than rail, with around two-thirds (67-68%) being under 5 miles in both years.

Public Transport in Flux: Trends and Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic delivered a monumental shock to public transport usage in 2020, with trip rates plummeting across all modes. The 2021 and 2022 NTS reports track the nascent, albeit often uneven, journey towards recovery. While there was a discernible increase in trips per person in both years compared to the 2020 lows, pre-pandemic (2019) levels remained largely out of reach for most modes, signalling a lasting impact on travel habits.

Buses: A Gradual Rebound

Other local bus use (non-London) had already been experiencing a gradual decline, falling from 46 trips per person in 2002 to 32 trips in 2019. The pandemic then caused a sharp drop to 15 trips per person in 2020. In 2021, a slight increase to 17 trips per person was observed, followed by a more significant jump to 23 trips per person in 2022. Despite this recovery, the 2022 figure still represents an overall decline of 50% since 2002, highlighting long-term challenges for bus services outside the capital. The introduction of the Bus Recovery Grant from September 2021, aimed at sustaining services that might otherwise have ceased, undoubtedly played a role in this modest recovery.

Buses in London and the London Underground followed similar trajectories. Both modes maintained relatively stable average trip rates from 2002 to 2019 (19 and 10 trips per person respectively). They then saw sharp declines in 2020 (7 and 5 trips respectively). By 2021, London bus trips edged up to 9 per person, and London Underground to 8 per person. In 2022, London bus trips showed a robust increase to 14 per person, while the Underground remained stable at 7 trips per person compared to 2021. This suggests a stronger, though still incomplete, recovery for London's extensive public transport network.

Surface Rail: Varied Recovery

Surface rail trips per person had shown growth from 13 trips in 2002 to 21 in 2019 before falling to 11 in 2020. In 2021, it remained at 11 trips per person, indicating a slower initial recovery. However, 2022 brought a more significant increase to 15 trips per person. While this is an overall increase of 14% compared to 2002, it still falls short of 2019 levels. This increase has been attributed to the removal of COVID-19 measures, along with increased services and capacity, suggesting that rail recovery is closely tied to broader societal and policy changes.

Miles Travelled: Reflecting Trip Trends

The distance travelled per person for these public transport modes generally mirrored the trends in trip rates. All four selected modes showed an increase in distance travelled in 2021 compared to 2020, and further increases in 2022, particularly for buses and surface rail.

Surface rail consistently accounts for the highest average distance travelled, with 296 miles per person in 2021 and 453 miles per person in 2022. The 2022 figure represents a 4% increase compared to 2002, indicating a strong rebound in long-distance rail travel. Miles travelled on the London Underground showed a decrease of 24% from 2002 to 2021 (93 to 71 miles per person), remaining stable in 2022. Miles travelled on buses in London and other local buses have seen significant long-term declines, falling by 49% and 53% respectively from 2002 to 2021, with 2022 seeing further declines compared to 2002 (16% and 43% respectively), despite short-term increases from 2020 lows.

The Role of Taxis and Minicabs in the UK Travel Landscape

Within the National Travel Survey's classification, taxi or minicab services are grouped under 'public transport modes'. While the NTS doesn't provide granular data solely for taxis, their inclusion in this category offers valuable context, particularly when observing the travel patterns of specific demographics and regions. The data highlights that the 17 to 20 age group consistently made the highest proportion of their trips using public transport, which includes taxis. This could suggest that for younger individuals, who may not yet have access to a private car or who find other public transport options less convenient for certain journeys, taxis offer a flexible and accessible alternative.

Furthermore, London, with its robust public transport infrastructure, also shows the highest proportion of public transport trips overall. Given the sheer volume of taxi and minicab services available in the capital, it's reasonable to infer that these services contribute significantly to Londoners' public transport usage, perhaps for 'last-mile' connectivity, late-night travel, or when carrying luggage. Taxis offer a level of directness and convenience that fixed-route public transport cannot always match, making them a preferred choice for specific trip purposes, especially when time is of the essence or when travelling with others makes the cost more economical.

The pandemic's impact on public transport likely also influenced taxi use. As people sought to minimise contact on crowded buses or trains, private hire vehicles might have been perceived as a safer alternative, particularly for essential journeys. While the NTS data doesn't isolate this trend, the general increase in public transport usage from 2020 to 2021 and 2022, even if not fully recovered, suggests a return to reliance on all forms of public transport, including taxis, as society reopened. Taxis and minicabs therefore serve as an important, flexible component of the UK's overall transport mix, complementing traditional public transport and private car use, particularly in urban areas and for specific travel needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About the National Travel Survey

What is the National Travel Survey (NTS)?

The NTS is a continuous household survey that collects data on personal travel by residents of England within Great Britain. It uses interviews and 7-day travel diaries to analyse travel patterns and trends. It began in 1988, building on ad-hoc surveys from the 1960s.

How was the NTS conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic?

From March 2020, the NTS adapted its methodology from face-to-face interviews to primarily telephone-based data collection. In 2021, a 'knock-to-nudge' approach was introduced, combining doorstep recruitment with telephone interviews to boost response rates. Caution is advised when interpreting 2020-2022 data due to these changes.

What were the key takeaways from the NTS 2021/2022 regarding public transport?

Public transport use saw a sharp decline in 2020 due to the pandemic. While there was a partial recovery in 2021 and 2022 for buses, London Underground, and rail services, most modes remained below pre-pandemic (2019) levels. Surface rail showed the strongest recovery in miles travelled by 2022.

How did taxi use fare in the NTS 2021/2022?

Taxis and minicabs are included within the 'public transport modes' category of the NTS. The data shows that the 17-20 age group made the highest proportion of their trips using public transport (including taxis), and London residents also showed high public transport usage. This suggests taxis play a significant role for specific demographics and in urban environments, offering flexibility and convenience, especially when other public transport options might be less suitable or available.

Why is the National Travel Survey important?

The NTS data is crucial for describing travel patterns, monitoring trends (including sustainable modes), assessing the equality impacts of transport policies on different groups, and contributing to the evaluation of transport policies. It provides vital evidence for decision-making in the transport sector.

The 2021 and 2022 National Travel Survey reports provide an invaluable lens through which to view the evolving travel habits of residents across England. Despite the methodological adjustments necessitated by the pandemic, the data clearly illustrates the initial shock to public transport, the gradual, albeit incomplete, recovery, and the enduring preference for private vehicles for many journeys. Active travel, particularly walking, continues to dominate short trips, underscoring the importance of local infrastructure.

For the taxi and minicab industry, these reports, while not providing granular specifics, reinforce their integral position within the broader public transport ecosystem. As a flexible, on-demand service, taxis likely fill critical gaps, particularly for younger demographics and in dense urban centres like London, offering solutions for journeys where fixed-route services are impractical or unavailable. As the UK continues to navigate post-pandemic life, the NTS will remain a vital tool for understanding our movements, adapting our transport networks, and planning for a more connected and efficient future.

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