Is there a growing change in attitude to how we travel in the UK?
Recent research seems to be showing an increased change in attitude towards how people plan to travel in the UK in 2023. Research done by FREE NOW indicates that up to half the UK population plans to change their travel habits in the new year as a way to both save money and help look after the planet.
These changes include sharing mobility, using public transport, investing in electric vehicles, and even in some cases, doing the unthinkable, and dumping the car altogether.
How To Travel In The UK?
Shared Mobility
A total of 14 percent of the people surveyed said they intend to share transport in order to cut costs and help prevent more damage being caused to the environment.
Some of the more popular schemes in shared mobility are car sharing or carpooling. People who work in the same place can take turns driving and give lifts to colleagues in car-sharing schemes. More and more employers are actively encouraging such schemes. And there are now also carpooling apps available such as Gopili and BlaBlaCar that can help people get from A to B in a shared vehicle, decreasing road capacity.
Having faith in public transport
Research carried out by First Bus in 2022 showed that 41 percent of people in the UK are planning to use the bus as a way to save money in the cost of living crisis.
Furthermore, in London, the research shows that using the bus has been a help to people’s mental health, compared to driving themselves on the roads or using other modes of public transport.
Going Electric
Switching to an electric car is another option. The research shows 14 percent of those questioned said when they replace their current car, they will do so with a cleaner model. This included both hybrid and electric vehicles.
This can also have an impact on workers who use their vehicles for work-related reasons. Employers may apply individual tax rates on energy-efficient cars, meaning investing in an energy-efficient vehicle is more profitable. In these cases having a better understanding of the 2022/2023 HMRC mileage rates is likely to be beneficial. It’s always going to be helpful to know the mileage rates when comparing hybrid or electric against petrol or diesel vehicles in case it’s possible to benefit from any possible tax breaks.
Dumping the car
This one is the real nuclear option, but research even indicates that people in the UK are genuinely considering dumping their cars. Well, at least the younger generations. According to the data, almost half of the young people asked believed that they might be able to cope without a car.
Obviously, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. But for now, the younger generation seems to think they can adequately travel via cabs, private hire vehicles, e-scooters, and e-bikes.
There seems to be a real desire for change in the UK, which is supported by the statistics. Change does take time, but it has to start somewhere. And there now seems to be a growing momentum across the UK – possibly hurried up by the cost of living crisis – to reconsider future travel options, and in the process, both save money and look after the environment better.
