Local transport challenges

Respondents were asked to identify the main transport-related challenges facing their local area (it was not specified whether this was a trunk road or non-trunk road area).

The most commonly reported challenge was poor road conditions, mentioned by almost two-thirds of respondents (64%). The next most common challenges, mentioned by just over a third of respondents, were a lack of investment or upgrades (37%) and congestion on roads (34%) (Figure 9.1).

In comparison to 2023, respondents were more likely to mention congestion on roads (34% in 2024, compared to 28% in 2023) but less likely to mention poor bus services (22%, compared to 26%).

Figure 9.1: Perceived transport-related challenges facing respondents’ local areas (top ten responses), as described in the text above
Figure 9.1: Perceived transport-related challenges facing respondents’ local areas (top ten responses)

Respondents in the North East were more likely than average to report on poor bus services being a challenge (28%, compared to 22% overall) and a lack of bus links in rural areas (24%, compared to 18%).

Meanwhile, those in the South East were more likely to say that congestion on roads was a challenge (43%, compared to 34% overall), and those in the North West were more likely to mention a lack of road links or routes (11%, compared to 5%).