Firstly, thank you to everyone who took part in our Public Transport Questionnaire.

In total 235 people took the time to complete the questionnaire which was trying to identify Public transport usage and perception amongst both parents and children.

The findings were as follows:

77% of respondents had children aged between 0 and 5.

In a nation of car owners over 73% of parents thought that their children would consider it a 'treat' to travel on public transport and while nearly 60% said their child had travelled on a train in the last 12 months only 20% had travelled by train more than twice in this period.

Parents themselves had mixed views about using public transport - 36% found it impractical and stressful while 45% found it relatively stress free, but would rather travel by car. When specifically asked what reaction they had from fellow passengers when travelling with small children sadly a majority, 63%, said that generally other passengers did not even make eye contact. (There are some good Samaritans out there though, as 25% of respondents did say that fellow passengers offered help and or a seat).

Overall, children seem to be equally divided as their parents on the merit of public transport. While most young children still see a bus/train trip it as a 'treat', when asked what mode of transport their child would pick to go shopping or visit a friend 47% of parents said their child would choose to go by car, the next favourite mode of transport being the train, 32%.

Overall it appears that while we appreciate that public transport is important - 85% of respondents believed that a good public transport system will be very or fairly important to their child when he/she grows up - that both parents and children prefer to choose the car when given an option.

However, Public transport bosses will be slightly encouraged to read that while travelling on public transport is seen as something to be enjoyed rarely by today's children there are some budding train drivers out there, 13% of parents said that their child mentioned 'train driving' as a possible future career….so all is not lost!