The bar charts illustrate the proportion of car trips into the city centre by residents and non-residents between 1996 and 2005. The measurements were indicated in thousands journeys per day. Overall, it is evident from the charts that there were corresponding rises and falls in the average frequency of car trips by residents and non-residents over the period.
In detail, the proportion of car trips per day made by residents was higher than non-residents at all times, remaining between 9,000 and 10,000 trips from 1996 to 1999. In comparison, trips made by non-resident grew steadily from 5,000 to just over 8,000 over the same period.
By the time parking meters were introduced in the city centre, the pattern for trips by non-residents was reported higher than by residents, standing at approximately 8,000 trips from 2000 to 2002, compared to around 5,000 trips by residents.
When Westgate Street and Park Lane were closed to traffic, the pattern for both categories dropped rapidly between 2003 and 2005. The frequency of trips per day by residents remained stagnant around 4,000 trips, whereas trips by non-residents rose moderately from 3,000 to almost 5,000 trips.
It can be understood that the average number of car journeys per day was initially higher for both residents and non-residents. However, the figures in both categories experienced sharp declines when Westgate Street Park Lane were closed to traffic. When parking meters were introduced into the city centre, only car journeys by non-residents remained interestingly high in average.