Dissatisfaction with public transport and active travel provision

Being able to travel to work, public services (such as school, hospital and parks), and social events and leisure activities is important for good mental health and wellbeing. Subjective satisfaction ratings are associated with people’s ability to make these journeys reliably, safely and without frequent stress.

This chart looks at the percentage of people in England in 2021 who were dissatisfied with local bus and train services, as well as local provision for walking and cycling (also known as ‘active travel’). Local provision for walking can include accessibility of footpaths and pedestrian crossings, while local provision for cycling can include availability of cycle lanes.

On average, the dissatisfaction ratings in England are 20% for local bus provision, 17% for local train provision, 40% for provision of cycling lanes and 14% for walking provision. These rates vary by region.

• All across England, people are by far most likely to be dissatisfied with the provision of cycling lanes. At least 32% of respondents in all regions indicated dissatisfaction with cycling lanes.
• Dissatisfaction with local bus provision is second in all regions aside from London, the North East and the North West.
• People are most likely to be dissatisfied with train services in South West England (22%) and least likely to be dissatisfied in London (10%).
• 45% of people in the West Midlands, and 44% of people in the North East and the East of England are dissatisfied with the provision of local cycling lanes, compared to 32% of people in London.
• People are most likely to be dissatisfied with walking provision in the South West (22%) and least likely to be dissatisfied in London (8%).

The perceived quality of public and active transport can determine people’s willingness to use a mode of transport. There needs to be greater investment in public and active transport systems, as well as complementary policies that support these.

• The survey questions are asked of all respondents, not just those who use the services.
• The category ‘local trains’ includes train, underground, light rail and tram services.

Source: Health Foundation analysis of Department for Transport, National Travel Survey (NTS), 2021.