West Yorkshire COVID-19 Transport Survey

Over 2,000 regular public transport users who live, work, and visit West Yorkshire took part in an online survey which took place between 10 June – 21 June.

The survey covered the following themes:

• Travel needs – people’s working situations, including commuting and home working in relation to COVID-19, so that we can understand their transport needs.
• Travel choices – people’s reasons for making journeys before COVID-19, including the transport modes used and how often they used them, and where people find public transport information from.
• Coronavirus and public transport – how well people feel public transport operators are responding to the pandemic, including how easy or difficult it is to access transport information.
• Coronavirus and cycling and walking – how people are travelling in this way.
• Future travel needs – how might the way people travel change.
• Feelings about public transport – concerns people are feeling about using public transport at the moment and things that could be done to address any concerns.
• Coronavirus sentiments – wider concerns and the impact of the pandemic.

The results of this survey will help us  better understand and plan for the potential impact of changing travel behaviours. They will also inform decisions about the transport network and other services we provide across the region as we work to ensure they meet the needs of residents and visitors.

The main findings are summarised below, and the full report can be downloaded here.

• 37% of respondents are walking/running more than before lockdown, and 61% reported their recent experience as positive
• 33% of respondents said they are cycling more, with the main reasons being for leisure and exercise, and 73% have found their recent experience of cycling positive overall
• 59% of bus users said that in the coming weeks they will travel by bus less than before lockdown and 66% of train users will travel by train less.
• 31% of public transport users expect to travel by car or van more in the coming weeks
• 37% of respondents said they were very concerned about using public transport
• Of those who had been working at home, 68% found the experience to be positive overall and 68% said that in the long term, they are likely to work from home more often than before lockdown

The Combined Authority and partners are investing in measures to make more road space available for cycling and walking and providing support to maximise capacity on public transport while maintaining social distancing.

If you have any questions about the surveys or this analysis, please contact Andrew.Fitzpatrick@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views.