A Statistics Canada survey reveals that more people now walk or ride their bike to work than take public transit.

The poll indicates that the fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus “weighed heavily” on this shift.

A five-fold increase in the number of people working from home since the onset of the pandemic also counted as a factor.

Six percent of Canadians now walk or bicycle to work compared to three percent who ride public transit.

Before the pandemic, 13 percent used public transit to work.

Statistics Canada released the results of the survey Monday (August 10).

The agency noted that prior to the pandemic, 75 percent of workers commuted to work by private vehicle; 13 percent, public transit; seven percent, walking or biking; four percent, telecommuting; and one percent, another mode of transportation.

The proportions changed in June 2020.

The number of people of who walk or ride their bikes to work now represent twice of those who take public transit.

Private vehicles remain the most common mode of commuting, 67 percent; telecommuting, 22 percent; walking or biking, six percent; public transit, three percent; and another mode of transportation, two percent.

“The vast majority (94%) of commuters who used public transit before the pandemic and who were not comfortable going back to their usual place of work cited ‘fear of using public transit’ as a concern when they return to their workplace,” Statistics Canada noted.

The agency also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic did “not bring transformative changes to car commuting”.

Over four-fifths or 84 percent of commuters who drove to work before the health crisis continued to do so in June.

Meanwhile, nearly one-quarter or 24 percent of people who rode public transit before the pandemic still do so in June.

However, over one-third or 34 percent switched to another mode of transportation, and 42 percent did teleworking.

“Of the public transit users who changed modes, approximately three-quarters switched to taking their car and one-fifth walked or bicycled to work,” Statistics Canada noted.