Tracking travel in and around Hampshire

Hampshire Perspectives is the County Council's residents' forum

This report summarises key findings from the 55th Hampshire Perspectives survey, which was the sixth in a series of annual surveys focused on travel in Hampshire.

Your feedback helps us understand how people travel around Hampshire and how travel needs are changing. While not necessarily fully representative of everyone who lives in Hampshire, the results provide a valuable local snapshot that informs strategies to improve everyday journeys, walking and cycling, and public transport across the county. 

The survey was open from 6 and 20 July 2026 and received 660 responses from Hampshire Perspectives members.

Key findings and how we will use your feedback:

Some aspects of your travel behaviour have remained stable:

• Car and van travel remains the most common way of travelling around Hampshire, while shopping, leisure and social activities continue to be the main reasons for travelling.
• The main barriers to using public transport or walking and cycling continue to be convenience, limited bus services and the need to carry items. 

Some aspects of travel behaviour are showing longer term changes:

• The use of electric, hybrid and other lower-emission vehicles continue to grow, with 24% of you now using one as their main vehicle.
• Public transport use has remained steady and shows a very slight upward trend over the last five years, particularly among people using the bus slightly more. 
• Travel for commuting and education purposes has continued to decline, which may reflect changes in working patterns, including higher levels of home and hybrid working than in previous years, as well as the older age profile of respondents in recent survey years.

Other aspects of travel appear to be changing more recently:

• Public transport journeys were perceived as slightly more difficult this year, although this is in line with patterns seen before 2025.
• More of you cited weather as a barrier to walking and cycling this year, which may reflect the impact of the summer heatwave.

New question for 2026, pavement parking:

• For the first time, we asked about potential pavement parking restrictions following the Government's decision not to introduce a nationwide ban in England.
• Most of you (82%) supported the restrictions because of their potential safety and accessibility benefits. As only 6% of you reported parking partially or fully on pavements at least once a month, the restrictions are likely to directly affect a relatively small minority, which may partly explain the high level of support.
• Concerns raised by the minority focused on emergency vehicle access, driver behaviour, and the impact on parking near homes and school drop-offs.