Scottish cities

Travel to work, Scottish cities, 2022

Edinburgh had the highest percentage of people working mainly at or from home with 39%. Travel by car, either driving or as a passenger, was the predominant commuting method in Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow. Edinburgh had the lowest level of car use (27%) and the highest proportion of bus use (15%), and cycling (4%), while Glasgow had the highest proportion of commuters who travel by train (5%). 

Trends in walking to work or study in selected Scottish cities, 2001-2022

In all four selected Scottish cities, there was a steady decrease in walking to work. In Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow there was a fall of around 8% from 2001 to 2022, while in Dundee it reduced by 11%.

Trends in cycling to work or study in selected Scottish cities, 2001-2011

Edinburgh consistently had the highest percentage of people aged 16-74 cycling to work or full-time study (increasing from 3% in 2001 to 4% in 2011 and 2022) of all the selected Scottish cities. In Glasgow, the percentage of commuters who cycled increased and almost doubled from 1% in 2001 to 2% in 2022.

Notes

The figures above were based on all people aged 16 to 74 in employment or full-time study the week before the Census. The data are sourced from the 2001, 2011 and 2022 Censuses.

‘Other’ includes underground, subway or tram, taxi or private hire, motorcycle, scooter or moped.

A GCPH report, Pedestrian and cyclist casualty trends in Scotland, as well as providing a detailed analysis of casualty trends, outlines trends in modes of travel to work and study in Scotland (see Chapter 4 and Appendix A). 

This page was last updated in March 2025.