Walking and cycling statistics, England: Demographic differences in walking and cycling
Published 30 August 2023
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2023
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About this release
This section of the walking and cycling publication covers demographic differences (age and sex) in walking and cycling in England. The data originates from the National Travel Survey (NTS) which collects data to monitor trends in personal travel.
Other sections of the release are found in the walking and cycling publication for 2022.
1. Demographic differences in walking
The number of walking trips and the reasons for walking and cycling differ between males and females, and people of different ages.
1.1 Trips, stages, and miles walked
In 2022, females tended to walk more trips, in more stages, and for further distances than males across most age groups (Chart 1).
In 2022, females on average made 18% more walking trips than males (289 trips compared to 244 trips), continuing the trends seen in previous years. Females aged 30 to 39 made the highest number of walking trips (374 walking trips), the highest number made in the series, and 60% more trips than males in the same age group (234 walking trips). Increases are seen in all age groups for females between 2021 and 2022, except those aged 21-29 and 70 and over. The largest of these increases was seen by those aged 17 to 20, which has increased by 62% between 2021 and 2022 following a large fall for this group during the pandemic, but levels remain below those seen in previous years.
Whilst there are fluctuations seen amongst all age groups, there is a general declining trend across the series for females aged below 30. In contrast to this, females ages 40 to 49 and 70 and over have seen increases in walking trips, particularly over the last 10 years (35% and 62% increase respectively).
In comparison to males, all female age groups are walking more trips in 2022 except for those aged 70 and over. Despite males making less walking trips than females, most age groups are making more walking trips in 2022 than they were 10 years ago, with males aged 60 to 69 making 30% more walking trips than they did in 2012 (209 versus 272 walking trips). Similar to the trend seen in females, there was a big fall in walking trips by those aged 17 to 20 with walking trips nearly halving between 2019 and 2020, with levels also yet to recover in line with the previous trend.
Chart 1: Walking trips per person per year, by age and gender, England, 2022 (NTS0601)
A similar pattern is seen with the number of stages walked across the different age groups, with females making more walking stages than men. However, across almost all age groups, both males and females have lower walking stages in 2022 in comparison to 2019 (292 versus 316 walking stages for all males, and 343 versus 348 walking stages for all females).
The number of average miles walked over time has been increasing for all age groups, with males increasing their average walking distance by 12% and females by 20% since levels 10 years ago in 2012. This trend also follows amongst all age groups for both males and females, except for those 29 and below where the average distance walked has been falling for both males and females across the series.
2. Demographic differences in cycling
2.1 Trips, stages, and miles cycled
Across the series, males cycled more and for further distances than females across all age groups (Chart 2).
In 2022, males made almost three times as many cycling trips than females (23 trips per person compared to 8 per person) and cycled on average over three times the distance (89 miles per person compared to 25 miles per person).
Males aged 40 to 49 are making the greatest number of average cycling trips (33 cycling trips per person), almost double the trips by females in the same age group (17 cycling trips) which is also the most prevalent age group amongst women.
In comparison to 10 years ago, both groups are making fewer cycling trips, although the number of average cycling trips by males remains similar (25 versus 23 cycling trips) and for females (10 versus 8 cycling trips).
The largest difference between males and females is seen in the 70 and over age group where males are making over nine times as many cycling trips. In the younger age groups, males aged 30 to 39 are making five times as many trips in comparison to females.
Chart 2: Cycling trips per person per year, by age and sex, England, 2022 (NTS0601)
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