The study from King’s College London’s Policy Institute and pollster Ipsos Mori on behalf of the BBC marks one year since lockdown restrictions were first introduced. It shows that 23% of people will do ‘a little more’ walking and 15% plan to walk ‘much more’. Around a fifth expect to drive more than they previously did and 14% say they plan to cycle more after restrictions ease.

When it came to commuting – perhaps surprisingly – only 17% thought they would do a little or a lot less. But people were divided as to whether their use of video calls would change after the restrictions ease: 22% said they would do more compared to a year ago and 21% think they will do less.

The impact of the pandemic on air travel was more pronounced, with 21% saying they will fly less. Nearly a third of people surveyed also said they plan to do more shopping locally after restrictions ease, compared to around one in 10 who said they will do less local shopping.

People taking part in the study ‘A year of life under lockdown’ were also asked which aspects of the last 12 months they will miss. Fourteen percent cited less traffic and ‘peace and quiet’ on the roads, with 10% saying not going to work or working from home. Six percent said less crowded cities, places that were not so congested and fewer people out and about.

The report comes as latest official figures into transport use since the start of the pandemic show that motor traffic has returned to 78% of pre Covid levels, with car use at 72%, light goods vehicles at 94% and heavy goods vehicles at 105% compared to an equivalent day before last March’s lockdown.

The number of rail journeys is around a fifth of what it was a year ago, and patronage on the London Underground is about a quarter of its pre pandemic level. Use of buses is around half of normal levels and cycling is about 84% of where it was a year ago.

(Photograph: chrisdorney - Shutterstock)