People are walking more locally

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Walking

What does the image show?

The image shows how the regular use of a mode of transport three days a week or more compares in summer 2021 to pre-pandemic levels. This shows the only mode to increase substantially is walking.

Why is this important?

Walking has typically been poorly monitored, with those counters of footfall that are available being concentrated in city centres. The story, if one were to rely on these counters, would be of a collapse in walking. However, people are not visiting city centres as much but walking more in their local neighbourhoods. Quite significant attention has been given to the large swings in public transport use which have been observed but this rather important finding has flown under the radar.

Graph: Mode use at least three days per week in June 2021 as a proportion of the same measure pre-pandemic.
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