Accredited official statistics

National Travel Survey 2022: Active travel

Updated 14 December 2023

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-travel-survey-2022/national-travel-survey-2022-active-travel

About this release

The National Travel Survey (NTS) is a household survey of personal travel by residents of England travelling within Great Britain, from data collected via interviews and a seven-day travel diary, which enables analysis of patterns and trends. This release covers the main findings from these travel behaviours during 2022. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from March 2020, has had a substantial impact on travel trends since 2020 and has affected the operation of this survey.Further details on these impacts can be found in the Introduction and main findings section of this report.

Chart 13: Average cycling trips made, and miles travelled per person per year: England, 2002 to 2022 (NTS0303)

Cycling trip rates remained broadly similar between 2002 and 2022, with a slight increase shown in 2020. In 2022, there were 15 cycling trips per person, similar to the previous year (15 trips per person) and 5% lower compared to 2019 (16 trips per person). The relatively small number of cycling trips in the sample means that this series can be volatile, but it has remained between 14 and 20 trips per person per year since 2002.

There has been a general upward trend in the average cycling miles travelled from 2002 to 2022, with a sharp increase in 2020. In 2022 there were 57 cycling miles per person travelled which was similar to the previous year (55 miles per person) and 4% higher than in 2019 (54 miles per person). Overall, average miles cycled in 2022 was 46% higher than in 2002 (39 miles per person).

Traffic statistics published by the department shows that there were 3.9 billion vehicle miles travelled by cycling in 2022, 7% lower than 2021 and 7% higher than 2019. Traffic statistics are collected by automatic and roadside manual traffic counts which estimate the number of vehicle miles travelled by pedal cycles within Great Britain. This differs from the NTS which is a survey of a sample population of England residents travelling within Great Britain whereby individuals record information about their pedal cycle trips within a 7-day travel diary. Differences between traffic statistics and the NTS mean that care should be taken not to make direct comparisons between the two datasets. Further information on these differences can be found within walking and cycling statistics.

Chart 14: Proportion of cycling trips per person per year, by trip purpose: England, 2019 to 2022 (NTS0409)

The most common purpose for a cycling trip was for leisure with 36% of all cycling trips in 2022. This was followed by commuting (30%), education or escort education (13%) and shopping (11%). Since 2020, the proportion of leisure cycling trips have reduced and the proportion of commuting and education or escort education cycling trips have increased. This indicates that the reasons given for cycling trips are now similar to those seen before the pandemic (2019).

Chart 15: Average cycling trips and miles travelled, by age and sex: England, 2022 (NTS0601)

In 2022, males of all ages made substantially more cycling trips on average and also cycled a longer distance than females. On average, males made 23 cycling trips and travelled 89 miles compared to females who made 8 cycling trips and travelled 25 miles. Males and females aged 40 to 49 made the most cycling trips with 33 and 17 trips per person respectively. Females aged 40 to 49 also cycled the longest distance amongst their sex with 53 miles per person and males aged 50 to 59 cycled the longest distance amongst their sex with 147 miles per person.

Chart 16: Average walking miles travelled and trips made, including walking of over a mile, per person per year: England, 2002 to 2022 (NTS0303)

In 2022, the average number of walking trips increased by 14% to 267 trips per person compared to 2021 (235 trips per person). This was an increase of 7% on 2019 (250 trips per person), and similar to 2002 (264 trips per person). The number of walking trips of over a mile remained the same as 2021 with 82 trips per person, which means that the increase came in walking trips of less than a mile in 2022. The number of walking trips of over a mile represented an increase of 26% compared to 2019 (65 trips per person).

Average walking distance travelled was the highest on record since 2002 with 221 miles per person in 2022. This was a 5% increase compared to 2021 (210 miles per person) and an increase of 8% compared to 2019 (205 miles per person). The distance travelled for walks of over a mile was 122 miles per person in 2022, slightly less than in 2021, however, this is still an increase of 22% compared to 2019 (100 miles per person).

Chart 17: Proportion of walking trips per person per year, by trip purpose: England, 2019 to 2022 (NTS0409)

The most common purpose for walking trips was other including just walk, with 34% in 2022. This was followed by education or escort education (19%), shopping (15%) and leisure (14%). Despite noticeable changes in the proportions, in the previous three years the most common walking trip purposes were the same as in 2022. Since 2020, the proportion of walking trips for other including just walk reduced but remained higher than pre-pandemic (2019) and the proportion of education or escort education, leisure and commuting walking trips increased but remained slightly lower than pre-pandemic.

Chart 18: Average walking trips and miles travelled, by age and sex: England, 2022 (NTS0601)

In 2022, females of all ages made more walking trips on average and also walked a longer distance than males. On average, females made 289 walking trips and travelled 230 miles compared to males who made 244 trips and travelled 211 miles. Females made more walking trips than males for all age groups, apart from the age group of 70 and over where males made more walking trips than females. Females aged 30 to 39 made the most walking trips amongst their sex with 374 walking trips per person and also walked the longest distance with 288 miles per person. Males aged 0 to 16 made the most walking trips amongst their sex with 307 walking trips per person but males aged 60 to 69 walked the longest distance with 254 miles per person.

Background information

The 2022 National Travel Survey (NTS) is the latest in a series of household surveys of personal travel by residents of England travelling within Great Britain, from data collected via interviews and a seven-day travel diary. The NTS is part of a continuous survey that began in 1988, following ad-hoc surveys from the 1960s, which enables analysis of patterns and trends.

Some key uses of the data include describing patterns, for example how different groups of people travel, monitoring trends in travel, including sustainable modes; assessing the potential equality impacts of different groups; and contributing to the evaluation of policies.

We always welcome feedback to help ensure that the survey meets the needs of users, and any feedback provided will help inform the future design and development of the survey. If you have any feedback, please email National Travel Survey statistics.

National Statistics

These statistics are designated as National Statistics. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Code of Practice for Statistics plays an essential role in ensuring that statistics published by government inspire the public confidence through demonstrating trustworthiness and providing high-quality statistics. These statistics were designated as National Statistics in July 2011. The continued designation was confirmed in September 2018.

Further information about these statistics is available, including:

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