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How we travelled

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In 2013, females were more likely to travel by car than males. This was the case both in respect of driving a private car, where 71.1% of females chose to drive as opposed to 66.8% of males, and as a car passenger which was the choice of 6.2% of females and 5.4% of males. On the other hand, males were more than two and a half times more likely to travel by lorry, motorcycle or other modes (3.6%) compared to just 1.4% of females. Males were also more likely to cycle or walk (18.1%) compared to females.

X-axis labelMaleFemaleTotal
Private car - driver66.871.169
Private car - passenger5.46.25.8
Lorry / motorcycle / other3.61.42.5
Walk / cycle18.115.316.7
Public transport incl. bus66.26.1
2.1 Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and gender, 2012 and 2013

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Almost two thirds (64.8%) of those who resided in densely populated areas drove to their destination by car. This was lower than was the case for intermediate density (75.3%) and thinly populated (71.5%) areas. Residents of densely populated areas were over two times more likely to have availed of public transport than residents of intermediate density or thinly populated areas.

X-axis labelDensely populated areaIntermediate density areaThinly populated areaAll areas
Private car - driver64.875.371.569
Private car - passenger5.57.15.45.8
Lorry/motorcycle/other2.42.82.32.5
Walk/cycle18.212.217.416.7
Public transport incl. bus9.12.63.46.1
2.2 Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and degree of urbanisation, 2012 and 2013

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Those living in Dublin were significantly less likely to drive than those in the rest of the country. In 2013, less than six out of ten Dubliners (57.4%) chose to drive compared to three quarters of those living in the rest of the country (74.0%). Dubliners were five times more likely to use public transport (13.9%) compared to the rest of the country. Just one in seven of those living outside the capital (14.4%) chose to walk or cycle compared to almost 22% in Dublin.

Distribution of journeys by mode of travel for Dublin, 2013
Private car -
driver
57.4
Private car -
passenger
5.3
Walk/cycle21.8
Public
transport
13.9
Other1.6
Distribution of journeys by mode of travel for all regions excluding Dublin, 2013
Private car -
driver
74
Walk/cycle14.4
Public transport2.7
Private car -
passenger
6
Other2.8
2.3 Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel for Dublin and all regions excluding Dublin, 2012 and 2013

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In 2013, more people were likely to travel by car for journeys of 15 minutes or less (77.7%).  Public transport was more likely to be used for journeys with a duration of 31-45 minutes (16.6%). Only a small proportion of people (2.9%) chose public transport for journeys with a duration of 15 minutes or less. Approximately one in ten (9.7%) chose to walk or cycle for those journeys which were in excess of 60 minutes duration. For journeys of 15 minutes or less, 17.5% walked or cycled.

Table 2.4: Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and duration, 2012 and 2013
      
Mode of travel15 minutes or less 16 - 30 minutes 31 - 45 minutes 46 - 60 minutes >60 minutes Total
20122013 20122013 20122013 20122013 20122013 20122013
 %% %% %% %% %% %%
              
Private car - driver73.872.9 67.266.670.760.6 58.858.0 56.057.870.469.0
Private car - passenger5.04.8 6.96.55.96.4 8.27.4 14.312.56.15.8
Lorry / motorcycle / other2.01.9 3.22.44.33.7 2.94.8 6.25.92.72.5
Walk / cycle16.417.5 13.116.99.812.7 16.916.8 8.99.714.816.7
Public transport incl. bus2.92.9 9.67.79.416.6 13.213.0 14.714.16.06.1
                 
All modes of travel100100 100100100100 100100 100100100100
                  
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Walking or cycling was the choice of mode used for almost half of all journeys under 2 kilometres (47.6%). There was a positive relationship between car usage and distance. For short journeys (<2 kilometres), only half used the car (49.4%), whereas for longer journeys of eight kilometres or more nearly nine out of ten people used the car as the mode of travel.

Table 2.5: Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and distance, 2012 and 2013
      
Mode of travel< 2 kilometres 2<4 kilometres 4<6 kilometres 6<8 kilometres 8+ kilometres Total
20122013 20122013 20122013 20122013 20122013 20122013
 %% %% %% %% %% %%
              
Private car - driver51.946.3 69.567.472.673.1 73.173.9 79.779.370.469.0
Private car - passenger3.23.1 4.54.25.75.2 5.86.1 8.48.06.15.8
Lorry / motorcycle / other1.51.4 1.51.32.31.4 2.62.2 3.83.92.72.5
Walk / cycle41.747.6 19.021.49.912.3 7.48.7 1.01.314.816.7
Public transport incl. bus1.61.6 5.45.69.48.0 11.19.1 7.07.56.06.1
                 
All modes of travel100100 100100100100 100100 100100100100
                  

Go to next chapter >>> Why we travelled