TMA03

BACK TO OU

Question part (a) –Summarize what the information in table 1 tells us about the changing patterns of

                                Travel in the UK      

Table 1 contains data about the changing trends of travel in the UK between 1975 and 2000. It is categorized by mode of transport and the year groups. It also contains the percentage of miles traveled that were by car and the average trip length. Summarizing this data can give us a picture of changing travel tends. 

The table shows an increase in total mileage and average journey length indicating we are traveling more and further as time passes. This could be an indication of the globalizing world. We are finding opportunities farther from home, and suffering lack of opportunities closer to it.

 The table also shows that the predominant method of transport in the UK across all of the years was the car. The percentage of car travel rises from 71% to 81% over the period measured. A large jump between 1975-76 and 1985-86 then slower rises in the periods that followed. In the last measured period the percentage car travel dropped slightly indicating a slight move away from the car as the primary method

The last column marks the percentage change in travel methods disregarding the first two measured periods and it is here we get an overall picture of the changing trends. A 12% increase in average trip length and a 6% increase in miles traveled.

The distance walked or push biked has seen a decline along with motorcycling, which seems to corroborate the loss of opportunities close to home, as less people can walk or bike to work. Busses and surface rail are harder to see trends with as they seem to have peaks of use then decline, but in general public transport overall shows a decline except in London where it has increased in use, especially the London underground. There has also been a resurgance in use of surface rail in the last period following a period of stagnation, indication perhaps more investment in the railways as an alternative to the car.

The increase in use overall of private taxicabs is also noticeable as it is larger than the increase in private car mileage. Other public transport such as air travel and ferry use have seen a growth, marked by a peak in the period of 95-97.this further substantiates the claim that we are traveling further afield.