Car journeys down and E scooters up as commuters want to offset carbon footprint

The number of commuters in Manchester has dropped by 2% since the pandemic began, with 93% of workers in the city commuting to work before March 2020, compared to 91% who commute now according to survey research revealed today.

There has been a decrease in workers surveyed commuting by car with figures showing 59% before March 2020 compared to 55% now.

While driving is still the most popular form of transport for commuting, the survey revealed that 7% travelled by bus, 2% cycled, 3% got the train and 17% walked. E-scooters are now used by 3% of commuters surveyed to get to their place of work.

14% of people in Manchester surveyed travelled less than one mile to work on the commute, 15% travelled 1-2 miles, 23% travelled more than 2 miles up to 5 miles, 18% travelled more than 5 miles up to 10 miles and just over 3% travelled over forty miles to get to work.

Before March 2020 more people surveyed (15 %) commuted less than a mile to work though the same (3%) made a journey of more than forty miles on their commute.

Commuter miles by car, bus and train are contributing to the carbon emissions in the city and polluting the air. When asked about their reaction to this over half (54%) of workers surveyed in Manchester agreed* that they wish there were an easy way for them to offset their carbon emissions from commuting to work. Nearly 3 in 5 (59%) workers agreed* they would be interested in buying solar panels for their house to offset their carbon footprint caused by their commute and nearly half (47%) agreed* people should buy solar panels to offset their carbon footprint caused by their commute.

Solar panels reduce households’ carbon footprint and solar energy produces little or no emissions when it is converted to electricity. As a natural, renewable source, solar energy can be replenished unlike fossil fuels which are finite. The Energy Saving Trust estimates the average UK home with a solar PV system installed could reduce carbon emissions by 1.3 to 1.6 tonnes per year depending on location in the UK. 1.3 tonnes of carbon emission is equivalent to the amount of CO2 emissions that come from using 536 gallons of petrol or charging 607,904 smartphones. A standard solar PV system in the UK will avoid 39 tons of carbon dioxide over 30 years which is equivalent to a medium-sized petrol car driving 90,000 miles.

Simon Peat, CEO of Project Solar UK who commissioned the research on Manchester commuters and their thoughts on solar energy, said,

“Commutes have dropped in the past year and 3 in 5 (60%) workers surveyed in Manchester agreed* that given the choice, they would choose to work from home to reduce their carbon footprint through not commuting. We are witnessing a surge in interest in using solar panels in the home to help reduce carbon emissions as Manchester residents seek out ways to look after the environment.”