Transport for London reports fewer car journeys, more cycling, more DLR

TfL has released its 3rd annual travel report today, revealing that in 2009, the capital saw a 7% decline in car use and a 5% increase in bike use, compared with 2008.

Car journeys still represent the greatest proportion of daily travel in the capital, with 36% of all daily travel involving some car use, compared with 21% for the next biggest categories - walking and catching the bus or tram. Car use is nonetheless in long-term decline in the capital, with "private transport" falling from 1993, when it accounted for 50% of all trips, to 41% of all trips last year.

The total number of journeys made on "TfL-operated services" (Bus, Underground, DLR, Tramlink, Overground) in the capital in 2009 fell by 0.4% - a decline which TfL attributes to the effects of recession, with fewer people travelling for both work and leisure. The data predates the impact of the ELL extension.

Of note is the growth of the DLR as a transport option, which was the only TfL service to experience significant growth last year. At the start of the decade, it accounted for 195 million passenger kilometres. Last year, the figure was 365 million. This growth should accelerate thanks to the expansion of the DLR's capacity this year.