Commuting Intensities and Patterns in England and Wales, 2001-2011

In this chapter, aggregate and micro data from the 2011 Census are used in conjunction with comparable data from the 2001 Census to identify patterns of and changes in commuting and homeworking rates at national and district levels in England and Wales. In overall terms, rates of commuting are increasing but this trend is not apparent in all parts of the country or for all modes of travel. There is evidence of convergence in commuting rates between various sub-groups of the population but travel by car continues to be by far the most popular modal choice, except of course in London which dominates the train network and where many commuters use the underground to get to work.