Transport & Connectivity Methodology

Data Sources

• OpenStreetMap (OSM) — Train stations, bus stops, London Underground, trams, and cycling infrastructure
• National Rail — Train services and station data
• TfL (Transport for London) — London Underground, DLR, Tram network (London only)
• Local Authority Bus Services — Bus routes and operators
• Update Frequency — Crowd-sourced; typically updated within weeks of new service changes

Train Stations

1. Locate nearest stations — We find the 5 closest train stations by straight-line distance
2. Calculate walking distance — We provide distances (actual walking distance ~1.2x straight-line)
3. List services — We note train operators and service types (mainline, regional, heritage)
4. Accessibility note — We flag step-free access where data is available

Bus Routes

We identify bus stops within 400 metres of the postcode and count unique bus route numbers. A higher count indicates better public transport connectivity.

London Underground & Tram

For postcodes in Greater London, we show distances to the nearest tube station and DLR/tram stops. Walking distance to tube typically determines commute convenience.

Cycling Infrastructure

We flag the presence of cycle routes (where mapped on OSM) and proximity to cycle superhighways in major cities.

Transport Score Calculation

Postcodewise combines transport metrics into a 0–10 score:

• 9–10: Multiple train stations <500m, frequent bus routes, tube/tram access (London)
• 7–8: Train station <1km, good bus coverage
• 5–6: Train station 1–2km, moderate bus access
• 3–4: Limited public transport; car-dependent
• 0–2: Isolated; minimal bus/train access

Limitations

• Distance Only — We don't consider journey time, service frequency, or whether the postcode has step-free access
• OSM Data Quality — Bus routes are crowd-sourced; coverage varies by region and may be incomplete
• Crowding Not Included — We don't account for overcrowding during peak hours
• Cycle Routes Limited — Cycling infrastructure is only mapped in some areas
• Service Changes — Bus routes change; OSM may lag by weeks or months
• No Real-Time Data — We don't provide live service status or journey planning

Data Attribution

Contains data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and data from Network Rail and Transport for London.