People are walking 20% less than they did 10 years ago

People are walking 20 per cent less than they did a decade ago because of the rise of delivery culture, official statistics suggest.

English adults made just 3.8 trips on foot each week in 2015, data shows – compared to the 4.7 trips they made recorded in 2005.

And women are the worst offenders, as their trips on foot declined by 13 per cent over the 10-year period – slightly more than men. 

The figures, collected by the Office for National Statistics, come amid the surge in popularity of online grocery shopping and takeaways.

Mobile apps such as Deliveroo have increased in demand in recent years as people prefer the convenience of having dinner delivered straight to their door.

And supermarkets across the UK offer their own home delivery options, with the rise of same-day delivery having boosted sales further.

The ONS data, released in conjunction with the Department for Transport, shows the old-fashioned walk to the shop has gone out the window. 

The report reads: ‘Personal business, business, shopping, and leisure walking trips have declined more than other types over the last ten years.’

The figures, collected by the Office for National Statistics, come amid the surge in popularity of online grocery shopping and takeaways

Just two fifths of adults walk for travel at least once a week, while one in eight adults cycle for any purpose at least once a week.

However, adults are cycling further than they did 10 years, amid the constant growth in sales for businesses in the multi-million pound industry. 

Average distance walked decreased during the same time frame, from around 3.8 miles a week to 3.5 miles in 2015, the data showed.

Walking is considered the second most common choice of travelling in England, with a quarter of all trips being made on foot. 

HOW MUCH DID YOU WALK IN 2016?

According to the new data, in 2016, the average person:   

  • made 243 walking trips
  • made 332 walking stages
  • walked 198 miles
  • walked for an average of 16 minutes and 0.7 miles per trip
  • spent 66 hours travelling by foot, which is about 75 minutes a week 
  • made 25% of all their trips by walking

And cars were still the number one option for making trips, with 62 per cent of all journeys being made as either a drive or passenger.  

Buses and trains are still lagging behind, despite crackdowns on cars as fears of air pollution become more widespread and further dangers emerge.

However, both forms of public transport are still more popular than putting seat on saddle for making trips, the ONS figures revealed.

In contrast, just two per cent of all trips – a method of transport used for an entire journey – were made on bicycle.

A stark divide between the north and the south of England was seen in terms of cycling rates.

The four regions in the southern half of England all displayed higher amounts of adults who bicycle, compared to the six in the north.

Cambridge had the highest rates of cyclists who got on their bike at least once a week (57 per cent), compared to Barnsley at the other end of the scale (4 per cent).

However, across the nation, people cycled 26 per cent further in 2016 compared to 2006, the figures revealed. 



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