By far the most common mode of travel is commuting by single-occupancy vehicle (SOV), but the dial is now beginning to shift.

The SOV still dominates the mobility landscape, but 43% of respondents now drive to work in a diesel or petrol car alone, compared to 46% in 2022. The number of single-occupancy EV commuters has very gradually increased, from 3% to 4%, which is in line with the general rise in usage of EVs nationwide.

Solo drivers of cars, vans and EVs combined made up 47% of all commuters in 2023. This is actually an increase from the single-occupancy commute levels recorded in the Government’s 2021 Census, which saw 45.1% of commuters driving to work in a car or van. It’s clear that the car remains a primary method of transport, but there are signs

of car usage changing, as car-share numbers have risen from 7% of commuters in 2022 to 12% this year (including car share EV).

The most significant change was in usually working from home – which dropped substantially, from 16% to just 4% of respondents. This naturally indicates that more people are commuting more days a week than in 2022, as mirrored in our analysis on flexible commuter that follows.

It appears that people may be returning to the office more sustainably, however, as almost all modes of transport other than SOV rose year on year. As well as car-sharing, cycling and train, bus, tube, metro and tram use have all increased in the last 12 months.

Encouragingly, this year’s Commuter Census reveals more considerable appetite for change than the same survey showed just 12 months ago.

There is still plenty of work to be done: The number of people using more sustainable methods to commute to work has slightly increased but, as discussed elsewhere in this Census, a higher percentage of people are using SOVs to get to work than two years ago – so the shift to sustainable transport needs to be more significant.

Despite “convenience” again being listed as the biggest reason for people’s current commute, one of the most notable findings was that lack of “availability” as a barrier to change rose by 21% year on year – meaning the appetite to find different modes of transport is growing.

There is therefore a requirement for more sustainable commuting schemes, more cycling and walking lanes, and a more reliable public transport network, to help turn this year’s small increase in sustainable commuting into a more substantial one.

There has been more investment in walking and cycling, with a £200 million fund made available in February 2023 to upgrade routes and paths across the country. However, as our Census found, the average commute for cyclists and walkers was five miles and one miles respectively. This means the benefit of this investment might not be felt by many as, according to the 2021 National Census, 64.6% of commuters live at least 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) away from the office.

For now, it’s every employer’s obligation to facilitate sustainable commuting. Organisations who support and incentivise their teams to do so generate benefits for everyone involved; from financial cost and environmental savings, to increases in productivity and engagement. This is why forward-thinking employers are now proactively seeking to reduce commuting emissions and are making progress towards their net-zero goals.