Canada Commuting Market Report 2021
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Report Summary
“COVID-19 has been particularly disruptive for transport, but offers a chance to reset the dial and build a more sustainable, integrated 21st century network. The car has become a cocoon for many people during the pandemic with the challenge of encouraging a shift towards public transit becoming more difficult. The pandemic has also been a catalyst for a number of permanent changes in living and working patterns, which will help to reshape transport use. Active travel has moved up a gear during this period and will aid in re-designing how consumers move around their local communities and beyond.”
– Andrew Zmijak, Research Analyst, Consumer Behaviour
This Report looks at the following areas:
- The impact of COVID-19 on commuting and, more specifically, public transit, car-sharing services, ride-hailing services, taxis, bike-sharing services, car usage and ownership, as well as active travel.
- How the market for commuting and modes of transportation will fare post-COVID-19.
- Usage and changes of transportation modes since the beginning of COVID-19, most important factors for commuting, changes in driving habits, attitudes towards driving and commuting. Additionally, sentiment around the future of commuting after COVID-19 is explored.
- The challenges the market faces, market factors impacting the category, marketing and advertising campaigns, as well as innovations and trends in the market.
Table of Contents
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Overview
- What you need to know
- Key issues covered in this Report
- COVID-19: Canadian context
- What you need to know
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Executive Summary
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- Top takeaways
- Market overview
- Impact of COVID-19 on commuting
- Summary
- Figure 1: Short, medium and long-term impact of COVID-19 on commuting, 2021
- Opportunities
- Many are taking the active route and walking and biking more
- Men are drawn to eco-conscious vehicles
- The exodus from the cities
- Challenges
- Consumers see the benefits of commuting less or not at all
- Commuters are a picky bunch
- Consumers look to walk more post-pandemic
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The Market – Key Takeaways
- Economic conditions are steadily improving but have a way to go
- Transportation 2030
- Gasoline prices continue to rise
- Housing prices climb during the pandemic
- Demand for used cars swells
- Economic conditions are steadily improving but have a way to go
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Market Factors
- Economic conditions are steadily improving but have a way to go
- Figure 2: Canadian unemployment rate, 2020-21
- Transportation 2030
- Going green
- Gasoline prices continue to rise
- Figure 3: Average retail prices for regular gasoline in Canada, by week, 2020-21 (September)
- Housing prices climb during the pandemic
- Demand for used cars swells
- Figure 4: Clutch Canada Instagram post, 2021
- Economic conditions are steadily improving but have a way to go
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Key Players – Key Takeaways
- Transit authorities taking safety measures to a new level
- Active transport as a means to boost health and fitness
- Escape from the city
- Employers should expect a hybrid work model to flourish post-pandemic
- E-bikes can act as longer-term alternatives to mass transit
- Transit authorities taking safety measures to a new level
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Competitive Strategies
- Transit authorities taking safety measures to a new level
- Figure 5: Enhanced cleaning | OC Transpo return to service, 2020
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- Figure 6: TTC Instagram post, 2021
- Active transport as a means to boost health and fitness
- Escape from the city
- Bringing back ridership
- Figure 7: Go Transit Travel Agency, 2021
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- Figure 8: TTC Welcome Back – 30 sec OLV, 2021
- Transit authorities taking safety measures to a new level
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Market Opportunities
- Employers should expect a hybrid work model to flourish post-pandemic
- Figure 9: Bike Share Toronto Instagram post, 2021
- E-bikes can act as longer-term alternatives to mass transit
- Figure 10: Yulu Instagram post, 2021
- Employers should expect a hybrid work model to flourish post-pandemic
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The Consumer – Key Takeaways
- Aside from driving one’s own vehicle, many have commuted by walking
- Canadians are walking more, whereas public transit usage drops sharply
- Convenience tops the list
- Over half of consumers were driving less
- Most believe less commuting has led to environmental benefits
- A third will walk more to get somewhere post-pandemic
- Aside from driving one’s own vehicle, many have commuted by walking
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Mode of Commute
- Aside from driving one’s own vehicle, many have commuted by walking
- Figure 11: Mode of transportation used in the past 12 months, 2021
- Men are more inclined towards active forms of commuting
- Figure 12: Mode of transportation used in the past 12 months, men vs women, 2021
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- Figure 13: Go Transit Instagram post, 2021
- Those on the younger side more likely to have used a variety of options
- Figure 14: Mode of transportation used in the past 12 months, by age, 2021
- South Asian Canadians rely on public transportation
- Figure 15: Mode of transportation used in the past 12 months, South Asian Canadians* vs overall, 2021
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- Figure 16: Most important factors for commuting, South Asian Canadians* vs overall, 2021
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- Figure 17: Bike Share Toronto Instagram post, 2021
- Figure 18: Bike Share Toronto Instagram post, 2021
- Urban dwellers have more options to get around
- Figure 19: Mode of transportation used in the past 12 months, by type of area, 2021
- Aside from driving one’s own vehicle, many have commuted by walking
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Change in Method of Commuting
- Canadians are walking more whereas public transit usage drops sharply
- Figure 20: Change in method of commuting in the past 12 months, 2021
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- Figure 21: Apple Fitness+ Instagram post, 2021
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- Figure 22: Uber Instagram post, 2020
- Despite a drop in vehicle usage, younger groups are optimistic about driving
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- Figure 23: Attitudes towards driving, 18-34s vs overall, 2021
- Canadians are walking more whereas public transit usage drops sharply
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Most Important Factors when Commuting
- Convenience tops the list
- Figure 24: Most important factors for commuting, 2021
- Younger women are seeking convenience
- Figure 25: Convenience-related factors for commuting, by age and gender, 2021
- Safe and reliable are key to drawing women
- Figure 26: Safety and reliability related factors for commuting, by age and gender, 2021
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- Figure 27: How to Share Your Trip with Trusted Contacts | Safety at Uber | Uber, 2019
- The three Cs: cost, cleanliness and comfort
- Figure 28: Cost, comfort and cleanliness of commuting, by age and gender, 2021
- Let’s not forget about the environment
- Figure 29: Zipcar Instagram post, 2020
- Students might be broke, but they still want clean transit
- Figure 30: Most important factors for commuting, students vs non-students, 2021
- Convenience tops the list
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Changes in Driving Habits due to COVID-19
- Over half of consumers were driving less
- Figure 31: Change in driving habits due to COVID-19, 2021
- Who was driving more?
- Figure 32: Change in driving habits due to COVID-19, by age, 2021
- Over half of consumers were driving less
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Car Ownership and Driving
- Men are drawn to eco-conscious vehicles
- Figure 33: Attitudes towards driving, men vs women, 2021
- Men are drawn to eco-conscious vehicles
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Attitudes towards Commuting
- Most believe less commuting has led to environmental benefits
- Figure 34: Attitudes towards the effects of less commuting or not at all (% agree), 2021
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- Figure 35: Attitudes towards commuting after COVID-19 (% agree), 2021
- Less commuting frees up time to do more
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- Figure 36: Attitudes towards commuting and lifestyle changes (% agree), 2021
- The pandemic has motivated active modes of travel
- Figure 37: Select attitudes towards commuting (% agree), 2021
- Most believe less commuting has led to environmental benefits
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The Future of Commuting
- A third will walk more to get somewhere post-pandemic
- Figure 38: Future of transportation (% agree), 2021
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- Figure 39: RedSky Medical post, 2021
- Younger consumers plan on walking more but will also take pre-cautions with other modes
- Figure 40: Future of transportation (% agree), by age, 2021
- A third will walk more to get somewhere post-pandemic
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Mintel Trend Drivers
- Consumer qualitative research
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Data sources
About the report
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