The bar chart illustrates the total number of trips (in millions) made by children aged 5–12 in a particular country using various modes of transport to travel to and from school in 1990 and 2010.
Overall, significant changes can be observed in the modes of transport used over the two decades. Walking was the most popular mode in 1990, but by 2010, car passengers became the dominant method. Other modes such as cycling and walking combined with bus usage saw considerable declines over the period.
In 1990, walking accounted for the highest number of trips, at 12 million, whereas car passengers were the least common, with only 4 million trips. However, by 2010, the pattern had reversed, with car passengers rising sharply to 11 million, overtaking walking, which fell to 6 million.
Cycling and walking combined with bus usage both experienced noticeable declines. The number of trips by bicycle dropped significantly from 6 million in 1990 to just 2 million in 2010, while walking and bus usage halved from 6 million to 3 million. Conversely, the use of buses as a standalone mode of transport saw a moderate decrease, declining from 7 million trips in 1990 to 5 million in 2010.
In conclusion, the data highlights a major shift toward car usage for school commutes over the two decades, accompanied by a decline in more traditional or independent modes of transport like walking and cycling.