Pilot National Travel Survey 2009

Summary Findings

Prepared by Mairead Griffin

Introduction

• Aim of survey was to collect data on the following:– Number of journeys– Reasons for making journeys– Mode(s) of transport used– Duration and distance travelled– Time journey commenced and ended– Supplementary information

• Survey conducted during the period October 2009 – January 2010

Survey design

• NTS designed as a module to the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS)

• Surveyed individuals aged 18 or over• Each participant assigned a ‘travel reference

period’• Participants issued with a travel diary• If no travel diary completed, details on travel for

the 24 hour period ending the day of the interview were collected instead

Average journey profile and travel patterns

• Respondents made an average of 2.4 journeys a day

• The average journey took 24 minutes to complete

• Average distance travelled per journey was 13 kilometres

• Respondents made 17 journeys and spent 403 minutes (6 hours and 43 minutes) travelling 221 kilometres per week

Journeys – some basic findings

• 70% of all journeys take less than 30 minutes to complete (39% less than 15 minutes)

• Just 8% of journeys ≥ 60 minutes• 41% of journeys are < 4 kilometres• 41% of journeys are > 8 kilometres

How people travel (Main mode of travel)

64%9%

4%

16%

4%

1% 1%Figure 2: Percentage Distribution of Journeys by Mode of Travel

Private Car - Driver

Private Car - Passenger

Van/Lorry and Other

Walk

Bus

Rail/Dart/Luas

Cycle

Mode of travel by vehicle ownership/regular usage

percentage

Vehicle Owner/Regular User

Mode Yes No

Private Car - Driver 78 3

Private Car - Passenger 5 24

Walk 9 49

Bus 1 16

Rail/Dart/Luas 1 3

Cycle 1 3

Van/Lorry & Other 5 3

All Modes 100 100

Percentage distribution of weekly kilometres by mode of travel

Private Car - Driver71%

Private Car - Passenger12%

Walk2%

Bus4%

Rail/Dart/Luas3%

Cycle0%

Van/Lorry & Other8%

Why People Travel

25%

3%

23%

9%

10%

17%

9%

4%

To travel to/from/for Work

Education

Shopping/Food/Drink

Personal Business

Other

Visit Family/Friends & Social/Entertainment

Companion Journey to/from Education

Other Companion Journey

Percentage distribution of weekly kilometres by why people travel

Work 34%

Education4%

Shopping/Food/Drink14%

Personal Business8%

Visit Family/Friends & Social/Entertainment

22%

Companion Journey to Educa-tion3%

Other Companion Journey4%

Other 11%

Distance travelled and travel time by mode

• Journeys by car drivers - 14 kilometres/23 minutes

• Journeys by car passengers – 18 kilometres/27 minutes

• Bus journeys – 14 kilometres/43 minutes

• Walk – 2 kilometres/17 minutes

Weekly travel profile by mode of travel for the population Q409

millions

Mode of travelJourneys per week

(number)

Weekly distance travelled

(kilometres)Weekly travel time

(hours)

Car - Driver 36.5 521.6 13.8

Car - Passenger 5.0 87.9 2.2

Van/Lorry & Other 2.6 57.2 1.2

Walk 9.3 15.1 2.7

Bus 2.3 33.3 1.6

Rail/Dart/ Luas 0.8 21.3 0.7

Cycle 0.6 3.4 0.3

All Modes 57.2 739.8 22.5

Weekly travel profile by journey purpose for population Q409

millions

Journey purposeJourneys per week

(number)

Weekly distance travelled

(kilometres)Weekly travel time

(hours)

Work 14.4 253.8 7.2

Education 1.7 26.0 1.0

Shopping/ Food/Drink 13.3 105.7 3.7

Personal Business 5.2 61.4 1.7Visit Family/ Friends & Social/ Entertainment 9.7 163.0 4.1Companion Journey to Education 5.1 23.2 1.1Other Companion Journeys 2.3 27.7 0.8

Other 5.5 79.1 2.9

All Purposes 57.2 739.8 22.5

Urban/rural differences

• Rural respondents made fewer journeys but travelled further than urban respondents Journeys per week:

Rural = 16 journeys Urban = 18 journeys

Average journey distance: Rural = 18 kilometres Urban = 10 kilometres

No significant difference in average journey duration: Rural = 24 minutes Urban = 23 minutes

Gender differences• No difference in number of journeys• Male journeys 36% longer at 15 kilometres

compared to 11 kilometres for females• Males travelled 71 kilometres more per week

than females (257 kilometres for males compared to 186 kilometres for females)

• 12% of female journeys were made as car passengers compared to 5% for males

• 26% of female journeys were less than 2 kilometres compared to 19% for males

Regional differences (Dublin and outside Dublin)

• Journeys made by Dublin respondents were just 60% of the length of journeys made by respondents from outside the Dublin region (9 and 15 kilometres respectively)

• Despite travelling much further, the average duration of journeys made by respondents from outside the Dublin region was 23 minutes compared to 25 minutes for Dublin respondents

Regional differences (Contd.)

• Mode Share Car – Driver:

Dublin 54%Others 68%

Walk:Dublin 21%Others 15%

Bus:Dublin 9%Others 2%

Availability of public transport • 77% of households reported access to a local public transport

service• Local bus service: 71% of households• Local mainline train: 30%• Local Dart/Luas: 12%

Urban/Rural and regional divide in access to local public transport

– Urban = 95%– Rural = 51%

– Dublin = 98%– Outside Dublin = 69%

Public transport usage

• 22% of respondents with local public transport use it at least weekly

Urban = 27%Rural = 7%

Dublin = 40%Outside Dublin = 12%

Interpreting the data• Sample: persons aged 18 plus • Covers travel within the Island of Ireland only• Only journeys made by residents of the State were

included• Excludes certain journeys e.g. those made by

professional drivers• Data collected for a particular quarter – may not be

representative of the year as a whole• Caution re definitions especially ‘work’/’work related’• Pilot survey

• Any questions?

• Thank you!