No one likes sitting in endless traffic but new research by FREE NOW has today revealed we spend an average of 374 days of our adult lives bumper to bumper. The survey also revealed that Brits spend a fifth of journeys stuck in congestion, totalling three hours a week – so it’s no surprise three in five (56 per cent) avoid driving altogether.

The poll of 2,000 adults was commissioned by the Mobility Super App to shine a light on the impact congestion has on our daily lives, as well as the alternatives consumers are now embracing to get around towns and cities.

When asked about the ways congestion affects their daily routines, respondents listed leaving earlier than needed, planning routes and making plans at “off peak” times to avoid traffic. They also admitted to leaving 26 minutes earlier than the projected journey time due to traffic concerns

More than a third (36 per cent) have been late for work because of traffic, while nearly a quarter (23 per cent) have been delayed for a social event. While 34 per cent even admitted they get envious when bikes or scooters whizz by when they are bumper to bumper, not to mention taxis gliding through bus lanes.

And it’s not just logistical gripes that are concerning Brits – over half (52 per cent) also worry about congestion’s impact on the environment.

To combat these concerns, over a third (35 per cent) have turned to alternative means of transport such as e-scooters and e-bikes to travel around their towns or cities, and 42 per cent say they would consider incorporating them into a longer commute when combined with local bus services and train journeys. Reasons for adoption include reaching their destination quicker (56 per cent), doing more for the environment (52 per cent) and avoiding sitting in traffic (27 per cent).

As part of FREE NOW’s pledge to help build breathable cities, the Mobility Super App has now expanded its multi-mobility offering to include Dott eBikes and eScooters into its app for the first time. The pledge has also seen the brand achieve climate neutral status since 2020 thanks to it being the only app in the UK to offer electric vehicle rides as the default option for passengers. By 2030 FREE NOW will be the first mobility platform to become Net Zero in all European markets.

Mariusz Zabrocki, UK General Manager at FREE NOW said: “Driving your car in standstill traffic is inconvenient to say the least, not to mention stress-inducing – so it’s no surprise that city-dwellers are seeking swift alternatives to get from A to B.

“We led the way in offering our customers eco-friendly alternatives when we became the first app to offer electric taxis and private hire vehicles as standard, which move through cities with their bus lane access and unique knowledge of roads and routes. So, we’re proud to be building on that by expanding to include e-bikes and e-scooters – enabling Brits to move around in a smooth and sustainable way, helping to reduce congestion as a result.

“Looking at the bigger picture, a recent report* found that 90% fewer private vehicles are needed in a purely shared mobility city, so we’re doing all we can to transform urban mobility without adding more cars to the streets.”