Travel in London Travel in London

2. Overall travel trends in London
Table 2.4
Trip-based mode shares – public and private transport by main mode.
Year
Public
transport
Percentage of trips
Private
transport Cycle Walk
1994 25% 49% 1% 25%
1995 25% 49% 1% 24%
1996 26% 49% 1% 24%
1997 26% 48% 1% 24%
1998 27% 48% 1% 24%
1999 27% 48% 1% 24%
2000 28% 47% 1% 24%
2001 28% 46% 1% 24%
2002 29% 46% 1% 24%
2003 30% 44% 1% 24%
2004 31% 43% 1% 24%
2005 31% 43% 2% 25%
2006 31% 43% 2% 24%
2007 32% 43% 2% 23%
2008 34% 40% 2% 24%
2009 34% 40% 2% 24%
2010 34% 39% 2% 24%
2011 36% 38% 2% 24%
2012 36% 37% 2% 24%
2013 37% 37% 2% 24%
2014 37% 37% 2% 24%
Source: TfL Planning, Strategic Analysis.
Trends in journey stages by mode
Figure 2.4 shows trends in patronage of the principal modes since 2001. Public
transport use has grown strongly over this period, with demand for all of the
public transport modes growing faster than population, reflecting changing
mode shares. Initially, growth was strongest on the bus network, with a 27.6
per cent increase in bus journey-stages between 2001 and 2004, and despite a
levelling off in growth in recent years, bus stages in 2014 were 70.8 per cent
higher than in 2001.
Growth in National Rail use (including London Overground) was initially slower
than bus use until 2009. Over the past five years, rail journey stages have
increased by almost 40 per cent, partly helped by the opening of TfL’s
Overground network, with rail stages now 74.9 per cent higher than in 2001.
In contrast, Underground passenger growth closely followed population growth
between 2001 and 2006, although use has started to grow at a faster rate in
recent years, reflecting completion of upgrades to several lines, which has
added extra capacity to the network. Despite growth in the latest year, car
driver stages are 12.5 per cent below the 2001 level.
35 Travel in London, Report 8