The pie charts illustrate how people in Europen city travelled to and work in 1959 and 2009.
Overall, it is clear that there were significant changes in commuting patterns over the 50-year period. While some modes of transport became less popular, others experienced a considerable increase. In addition, both the average distance and duration of journeys rose substantially.
In 1959, the majority of people travelled on foot, accounting for 55% of all journeys. This was followed by bus and bicycle, each representing 15%. Only 10% of commuters used cars, while 5% travelled by train. The average distance to work was 3.5 km, and the typical journey took 17 minutes.
By 2009, the proportion of people driving to work had risen dramatically to 35%, making it the most common form of transport. Meanwhile, the percentage of those walking fell sharply to 25%. Train use increased to 12%, whereas cycling declined slightly to 13%. The figure for bus travel remained unchanged at 15%. Furthermore, the average distance grew significantly to 19 km, and the average journey time increased to 42 minutes.