Situated along the River Thames, Thurrock is an international gateway for the UK with an expanding population. Every day, thousands of people travel within Thurrock and into London for work, education, healthcare, and leisure.
The area is also a key hub for logistics and trade, with major transport links such as DP World London Gateway, one of the UK's busiest ports, and easy access to the M25.
Understanding how people travel in and around Thurrock is crucial for supporting future economic growth, meeting net zero goals, and improving the quality of life for residents.
We surveyed people from across the East, asking about they travel behaviour, choices and reasons for travelling. Insights for Thurrock from the survey have been compiled into a comprehensive report, available below.
How and where was the survey conducted?
- A 25-minute online survey was conducted between 18 March – 17 April 2024.
- In Thurrock, there were 238 responses from across the district.
- Demographics were not controlled for when recruiting respondents. This means data in the report is weighted to be reflective of the relative sizing of age and gender from the Census for each district.
- Thurrock is a separate Local Transport Authority to Essex, which has its own report.
What did the survey tell us?
Car and walking are the most used modes of transport across all journey purposes.
8% of respondees said they choose cycling for their journey, however, 35% said they own a bike.
23% of respondents use rail, with 71% satisfied with the service.
22% of respondents use the bus, however 23% are dissatisfied with the service provision
Active Travel: Walking, Wheeling and Cycling
- Walking is the second most used mode of transport - which differs from other local authorities where it is the most used. However, respondents suggest walking will be their leading mode of transport for the forthcoming 12 months.
- For those who don't regularly walk, 36% of respondents said the biggest barrier is the weather. Safety concerns regarding pavement lighting were raised by 33% of respondents, with 35% saying the condition of pavements impacted their choice.
- 75% of respondents perceive walking to be important to make more sustainable travel choices, and additionally, 63% of respondents support further investment into infrastructure, making it easier to walk.
- Despite 35% of respondents owning a bicycle, only 8% report that they use bike as a mode of transport in a typical week.
- The key barriers and concerns of respondents is safety. Concerns with road traffic was the top barrier at 46%. Weather and lighting of cycle routes were other common reasons for not choose cycling.
- Looking ahead, 20% of respondents want to be cycling more in the future, but segregated cycle lanes and lighting are important to achieve this.
Driving, Roads and Electric Vehicle uptake
- The car is the most used transport mode in a typical week among the survey respondents. Based on their current understanding, the car is intended to be the second most used transport mode in the next 12 months.
- One key reason for this is convenience - 62% for drivers and 56% for passengers.
- Parents will often use the car when taking their child to school, as time constraints or distance restrict alternative travel options.
- Only 23% of car users reported being satisfied with the condition of roads.
- Currently, 7% of car users own an EV or plug-in hybrid.
- 45% of respondents indicate they intend to purchase/lease an EV in the next 5 years, however, 59% or those surveyed said the costs associated with purchasing an EV are the biggest barrier.
Public Transport: Bus and Rail
- The bus is the second most used mode of public transport, with 22% of respondents using it primarily for commuting to work.
- A key limitation of not choosing buses is a limited number of early/late services - 23% of respondents are dissatisfied with the availability in their area.
- The biggest barrier to travel by bus among 50% of respondents is the inconvenient/non-direct routes.
- 23% of Thurrock respondents regularly use the train, but answers suggest this could significantly increase in the future.
- 71% of respondents are satisfied with local rail services.
- However, 57% of all train users are dissatisfied with the cost of using the rail, creating a barrier for choosing this mode of transport.
Additional Information
How travel and transport impacts current work and shopping behaviours
72% of Thurrock respondents are currently working in a typical week - one of the key reasons people are making journeys. Of this group, only 5% work from home all of the time, with the rest travelling to the place of work all or some of the time. The average commute currently takes 34 minutes, with 59% of respondents travelling within Thurrock for work.
Respondents prefer to visit destinations close to home – which could encompass both towns and cities. 81% regularly use home deliveries.
Views on travel and climate change
74% of respondents think in general, it's important to travel sustainably. However, only 43% agree that sustainable travel is important to them, and only 36% consider themselves to be taking sustainable transport options currently. This suggests respondents think sustainable travel is important but are not actively travelling in this way.
Respondents showed an interest in schemes that could make a difference, including quieter neighbourhoods with reduced traffic, clean air zones. Initiatives that promote cycling and walking, including improvements to pedestrian walkways and the implementation of cycle lanes are also well regarded.
Views on funding priorities
Respondents listed the three top funding priorities as:
- Enhancing the number of public transport services
- Improving road conditions
- Upgrading footways
In a scenario where road charging were to be introduced to address the gap in funding, respondents agreed that it should be based upon emissions from the vehicle or the type of vehicle used - both are seen as fair ways to address any gaps in funding.