Homeworking resulted in a change to our travel habits
dropped between 2019 and 2022 due to a surge in working from home, statistics show.
Data from the Scottish Household Survey on journeys and travel methods was used in Transport Scotland's Transport and Travel in Scotland report, comparing pre-pandemic with post-pandemic habits.
The survey found that in 2022, 61 per cent of people had travelled the day before their survey interview – the lowest figure recorded since the current version of the survey was introduced in 2012.
The average number of journeys made the day before the survey interview dropped from 1.9 in 2019, when the figure was 74 per cent, to 1.5 in 2022.
However when people did travel, the survey found the journeys made were similar to previous years and were predominantly for shopping or commuting.
Electric car use also increased in 2022 compared to prior to the pandemic, the results show.
The report said the versions of the survey from 2020 and 2021 were not comparable with other years due to methTravel odological changes necessitated by the pandemic.
The survey found the share of journeys made by each transport mode in 2022 was broadly similar to 2019, with 55 per cent by driving a car or van, up slightly from 53 per cent in 2019.
Walking was the next most popular mode of transport in 2022 at 23 per cent of journeys, followed by 11 per cent as car passenger, 6 per cent by bus, 2 per cent by cycling, and 2 per cent by rail.
Shopping was the most frequent reason for travel in 2022, involving 23 per cent of journeys, followed by commuting at 21 per cent.
Some 31 per cent of employed people reported they worked from home in 2022, compared to 16 per cent in 2019. The proportion who commuted five days a week dropped from 62 per cent in 2019 to 38 per cent in 2022.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which provides impartial workplace advice, said that over half of employers expected an increase in remote working part of the week once the pandemic was over.
Susan Clews, Acas chief executive, added: “Many employers and their staff have seen the benefits of flexible working during the pandemic and will wish to continue.”