What does the typical UK commute look like?
For many workers across the UK, the shape of their commute has changed beyond recognition since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.
Unless you were deemed a ‘key worker’, the majority of businesses were forced to close their offices and employees were ordered to work from home.
Since then, many of the UK’s workforce has started making their way back into offices up and down the country.
But what does commuting look like in cities across the country – and what impact does this have on the environment?
We surveyed members of the British public to find out their attitudes towards commuting.
How does your city shape up in our findings?
How do different cities get to work?
According to our survey, using a car to commute is still the go-to choice for the British public.
Plymouth is the biggest culprit for car use, with 62.5% of residents using their vehicles for the commute.
Unsurprisingly, London residents commute by public transport the most, 22.5% of the capital’s residents use this method to commute. Plymouth residents use public transport the least at just 3.13%.
Cardiff residents are more likely to commute on foot, with 20% of those surveyed saying they walk to work each day. This is markedly higher than in Belfast, where just 5.26% of residents cite walking as their preference.
Cycling or using an e-scooter to get to work is on the rise. 14% of Norwich residents use this form of transport to get to work.
Working from home is still a popular option for the British public, with 21.05% of Belfast residents still being predominantly home-based to work.
What does your commute look like? Get in touch with us on social media to tell us!
What is the average commuter distance?
Of those surveyed, 75% commute less than 10 miles to work, with 20% commuting between 5 and 10 miles to work each day.
Pre-pandemic, 3.58% of those surveyed commuted more than 40 miles to work, compared to 2.69% in 2022.
12% of commuters travel less than a mile to their place of work, compared to 10% pre-pandemic.
In environmental terms, commuting 10 miles in a mid-size petrol car creates 5kg of carbon per journey. Over a year of commuting, this equates to 1305kg of carbon emissions per car!
What does the average commute look like in 2022?
When comparing commuters who used their car to travel to and from work before the pandemic with today’s data, the results are stark.
Before COVID-19, just 5.62% of those surveyed worked from home, compared to 14.95% in 2022.
Car use for commuters has remained largely unchanged, with 52% of those surveyed using their car before and since the pandemic to get to work.
In positive news, those walking, cycling or using an e-scooter to get to work has increased post-pandemic. 13% of the public surveyed cited the eco options as their choice when commuting in 2022, compared to 10% in 2020.
The use of public transport has decreased post-pandemic too, with just 5.26% of those surveyed using a bus or train to get to work, compared to 13.16% in early 2020.
Taking the train to work is hugely beneficial for the environment. Swapping your motor for the train can reduce personal emissions by up to 74%.
How can commuters offset their carbon emissions?
Commuter miles by car, bus and train continue to contribute to carbon emissions in cities.
54% of the British public wish there was an easy way to offset their carbon emissions caused by their commute.
Of those surveyed, 50% said they continue to choose to work from home as a way to offset their carbon emissions.
When surveyed, 46.71% of the British public think those who commute by car, bus or train should invest in solar panels to offset their carbon emissions caused by commuting.
Over 50% of those surveyed said they would be interested in buying solar panels for their home to offset their commuting carbon emissions.
Solar energy produces low emissions and is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your household.
A solar PV system could reduce carbon emissions by 1.3-1.6 tonnes per year, this is equivalent to a medium-sized petrol car driving 3000 miles.
Are you concerned about the carbon impact of your commute? Investing in solar panels for your home is a way to offset the carbon footprint caused by your commute.
