Band 9: The chart below shows the number of trips made by children in one country in 1990 and 2010 to travel to and from school using different modes of transport. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The chart illustrates data about the number of trips that were made to and from school using different types of transport in 1990 and 2010.

Overall, it can be seen that there were considerable downward trends in the usage of most types of transport; however, traveling to school as a car passenger showed a significant rise over the period.

Looking at the details, in 1990, more physical ways of traveling to school were popular rather than the usage of vehicles. Walking was the most popular among pupils in 1990; however, it saw a significant decline over two decades, reaching 6 million trips a year, making it the second-highest number in 2010. Following that, cycling and walking and bus despite starting at around the same level, the numbers for them decreased about 3 and 2 times, reaching 2 and 3 million per year in 2010, respectively.

By contrast, if we look at using vehicles to reach school, the figure for traveling to school as a car passenger rocketed tremendously by about 7 million, from just above 4 million to 11 million times a year in 2010; however, it was not as popular as walking in 1990. Next, the figure for buses followed the pattern, decreasing to 5 million times in 2010.