The table details the shifts that occurred in the ways of travelling in England over a period of 15 years, from 1985 to 2000. Overall, car travel was the most popular option among many people, distantly followed by other transport modes. It is also evident that walking, local buses, and bicycles were categories that witnessed decline by the end of the period, while the remaining figures saw moderate increases.
Car travel stood out for its remarkable role in people’s everyday lives, rising from 3199 miles per person in 1985 to 4806 in 2000, making it the most preferred mode of transport. It accounted for the majority of the overall rise in total travel, which went up from 4740 to 6475 miles. Other types of transport, on the other hand, were the second preferred choice for travelling. They made up 450 miles in 1985 and increased by 135 miles in 2000.
However, walking, using bicycles, and local buses showed a rather contrasting picture. Bicycle use fell from 51 to 41 miles, meanwhile walking dropped marginally from 255 to 237 miles, making them less attractive for users. Local buses, on the other hand, were another category that decreased noticeably, from 429 to 274 miles, whereas long-distance bus travel doubled, rising from 54 to 124 miles. Moreover, taxi and train use showed the sharpest rises respectively; the former increased from 13 to 42 miles, and the latter rose to 366 miles in 2000, from 239 miles in 1985.