Back to Top

 Skip navigation

How we travelled

Open in Excel:

In 2014, both males and females were equally likely to travel by car as driver (69.1% of journeys). Females were more than twice as likely to travel as a passenger in a private car than males at 7.6% and 2.8% respectively. On the other hand, males were substantially more likely to travel by lorry, motorcycle or other modes (5.0%) compared with just 0.4% of females. More females than males chose to walk (15.7% compared with 13.8% of males). Travel by public transport (including bus, rail, DART and LUAS) was largely similar for both males and females.

distribution of
journeys by
mode of travel
and gender
MaleFemaleTotal
Private car-driver69.169.169.1
Private car-passenger2.87.65.3
Lorry/motorcycle/other
incl taxi/hackney
5.81.43.4
Walk / Cycle16.316.616.4
Public transport
incl. bus, rail,
DART and LUAS
6.15.55.8
2.1 Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and gender, 2012, 2013 and 2014

Open in Excel:

In 2014, about two thirds of journeys (66.2%) taken by persons residing in densely populated areas were by car, driving to their chosen destination. This was lower than was the case for intermediate density (70.8%) and thinly populated (73.1%) areas. Journeys by public transport (bus, rail, DART or LUAS) taken by residents of densely populated areas were nearly three times greater than in intermediate density or thinly populated areas.

distribution of
journeys by
mode of travel
and degree of urbanisation
Densely populated areaIntermediate density areaThinly populated areaAll areas
Private car-driver66.270.873.169.1
Private car-passenger5.15.35.85.3
Lorry/motorcycle/other
incl taxi/hackney
2.94.63.53.4
Walk / Cycle15.11514.114.8
Public transport
incl. bus, rail,
DART and LUAS
8.62.92.65.8
2.2 Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and degree of urbanisation, 2012, 2013 and 2014

Open in Excel:

Those living in Dublin were significantly less likely to drive than those in the rest of the country. In 2014, less than six out of ten journeys by Dubliners (58.1%) were by car as driver compared to nearly three quarters of journeys by those living in the rest of the country (73.9%). Journeys by public transport for Dubliners (12.5%) were more than four times greater than in the rest of the country (2.8%). Just one in seven of journeys outside the capital (14.1%) were by walking or cycling compared to almost 22% in Dublin.

Mode distribution of journeys
by mode of travel
for Dublin, 2014
Car -
driver
58.1
Car -
passenger
4.9
Lorry
motorcycle
other
2.7
Walk
cycle
21.9
Public
transport
12.5
Mode distribution of journeys
by mode of travel
for all regions
excluding Dublin, 2014
Car -
driver
73.9
Car -
passenger
5.5
Lorry
motorcycle
other
3.8
Walk
cycle
14.1
Public
transport
2.8
2.3(a) Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel for Dublin and all regions excluding Dublin, 2012 2013 and 2014

2.3(b): Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel by region, 2013 and 2014

Open in Excel:

In 2014, more journeys were likely to be by car (either as driver or passenger) for journeys of 15 minutes or less (77.3%).  Public transport (bus, rail, DART or LUAS) was more likely to be used for journeys with a duration of 31-45 minutes (16.1%). Only a small proportion of journeys (2.1%) were by public transport for journeys with a duration of 15 minutes or less. Nearly one in ten journeys (9.0%) in excess of 60 minutes duration were by walking or cycling while this travel mode was used for 17.5% of journeys of 15 minutes or less.

Table 2.4: Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and duration, 2012, 2013 and 2014
   15 minutes or less 16 - 30 minutes 31 - 45 minutes 46 - 60 minutes >60 minutes TotalUnweighted 2014 sample (journeys taken by persons aged 18 years or over)
Mode of travel 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014
   %%% %%% %%% %%% %%% %%% 
 Private car - Driver 73.872.972.8 67.266.666.2 70.760.663.5 58.858.058.0 56.057.860.1 70.469.069.112,687
 Private car - Passenger 5.04.84.5 6.96.55.4 5.96.46.9 8.27.47.6 14.312.510.1 6.15.85.31,072
 Walk 15.316.516.0 11.715.015.3 8.811.38.0 15.815.815.8 7.58.67.1 13.615.414.82,526
 Bus 1.61.51.9 6.75.35.5 6.511.011.6 9.18.510.2 8.78.310.4 3.93.84.4725
 Cycle 1.11.01.5 1.41.81.9 1.01.41.6 1.11.01.4 1.41.11.9 1.21.31.6245
Rail/Dart/Luas 0.30.50.2 2.31.42.0 2.34.84.5 3.84.53.8 5.45.84.9 1.31.51.4231
Taxi/hackney 1.01.01.1 0.60.90.9 0.60.90.5 0.30.10.1 0.6.. 0.80.90.9155
Lorry/Motorcycle/Other1 2.01.92.0 3.22.42.7 4.33.73.5 2.94.83.1 6.25.95.6 2.72.52.5390
 All modes of travel100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.018,031
1Lorry/motorcycle/other includes lorry, van, motorcycle and other modes of transport.
. Percentage rounds to zero.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values.
Open in Excel:

Walking or cycling was the mode used for almost half of all journeys under two kilometres (45.7%). There was a positive relationship between car usage and distance. For short journeys (less than two kilometres), only half of journeys were by car (51.3%) either as driver or passenger, whereas for longer journeys of eight kilometres or more nearly nine out of ten (86.2%) were by car.

Table 2.5: Percentage distribution of journeys by mode of travel and distance, 2012, 2013 and 2014
Mode of travel < 2 kilometres 2<4 kilometres 4<6 kilometres 6<8 kilometres 8+ kilometres TotalUnweighted 2014 sample (journeys taken by persons aged 18 years or over)
 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014 201220132014
  %%% %%% %%% %%% %%% %%% 
Private car - Driver 51.946.349.1 69.567.465.6 72.673.170.6 73.173.975.4 79.779.378.3 70.469.069.112,687
Private car - Passenger 3.23.12.2 4.54.23.3 5.75.24.9 5.86.14.5 8.48.07.9 6.15.85.31,072
Walk 40.746.444.1 16.719.621.4 8.210.311.4 6.06.45.8 0.40.70.9 13.615.414.82,526
Bus 0.90.71.0 3.63.94.1 6.85.56.1 7.76.06.3 4.24.45.2 3.93.84.4725
Cycle 1.01.31.6 2.31.92.7 1.72.02.5 1.42.32.4 0.60.60.7 1.21.31.6245
Rail/Dart/Luas 0.10.2. 0.50.70.5 1.41.30.8 1.51.51.8 2.32.42.6 1.31.51.4231
Taxi/hackney 0.50.60.7 1.21.11.0 1.21.21.5 1.81.71.1 0.50.70.7 0.80.90.9155
Lorry/Motorcycle/Other1 1.51.41.3 1.51.31.3 2.31.42.2 2.62.22.7 3.83.93.7 2.72.52.5390
All modes of travel 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.018,031
1Lorry/motorcycle/other includes lorry, van, motorcycle and other modes of transport.
. Percentage rounds to zero.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values.
Open in Excel:

In 2014, nearly two thirds (62.9%) of all journeys were solo journeys while over one in five (22.5%) were two person journeys. Just short of 15% were in groups of three persons or more. This pattern was largely similar for 2012 and 2013.

Percentage distribution of
travel group size 2014
Percentage
distribution of
travel group size 2014
Solo journey2.5
Two persons18.6
Three persons19.7
Four persons22
5+ persons24
2.6 Percentage distribution of travel group size 2012, 2013 and 2014

Table 2.7: Percentage distribution of travel group size by mode of travel, 2012 , 2013 and 2014
Mode of travel2012  2013 2014Unweighted 2014 sample (journeys taken by persons aged 18 years or over)
Solo2 person3+ personsTotal Solo2 person3+ personsTotal Solo2 person3+ personsTotal
 %%%% %%%% %%%%
Private car70.883.887.576.5 69.483.385.474.8 68.785.284.274.413,759
Walk16.410.47.413.6 18.211.09.915.4 17.59.810.314.82,526
Bus5.02.12.43.9 4.72.42.03.8 5.52.22.54.4725
Cycle1.80.20.31.2 1.80.40.21.3 2.30.40.31.6245
Rail/Dart/Luas1.61.00.71.3 2.00.70.41.5 1.80.60.51.4231
Lorry/Motorcycle/Other4.32.61.73.5 3.92.22.23.3 4.21.92.23.4545
Total100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.018,031
1Lorry/motorcycle/other includes lorry, van, motorcycle, taxi, hackney and other modes of transport.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values.

In 2014, seven in every ten solo journeys were by private car and 85% of journeys of two persons and over were by car. One tenth of journeys where the mode of travel was walking or cycling were done in groups of two persons or more. This follows the same pattern as for 2012 and 2013.

Table 2.8: Percentage distribution of travel group size by purpose 2012 , 2013 and 2014
  
Purpose of travel 2012  2013 2014Unweighted 2014 sample (journeys taken by persons aged 18 years or over)
 Solo2 person3+ personsTotal Solo2 person3+ personsTotal Solo2 person3+ personsTotal
  %%%% %%%% %%%% 
Work 35.07.53.423.0 36.77.73.324.8 36.77.03.025.02,222
Education 5.33.64.84.8 4.74.34.94.6 4.93.34.94.5336
Shopping 21.423.418.421.4 22.624.819.922.7 23.528.019.924.02,485
To eat or drink 1.33.64.02.3 1.32.73.41.9 0.93.33.21.8179
Visit family/friends 9.412.411.810.5 8.812.113.310.2 9.212.315.110.81,069
Entertainment/leisure/sports 7.510.113.19.1 8.111.614.19.8 8.011.814.99.91,019
Personal business 6.16.53.65.8 6.47.45.26.4 5.55.72.85.2529
Companion/escort journey 10.227.537.719.0 7.724.131.815.2 6.722.330.813.81,447
Other 3.75.43.34.1 3.85.44.04.2 4.66.35.55.1585
Total100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.09,871
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values.

In 2014, over one third of all solo journeys were for the purpose of work. The same percentage of one person journeys were for the purpose of work in 2013 also, but was slightly up on 2012. The preference for journeys for the purpose of visiting family or friends or for entertainment, leisure or sports was that they tended to be done in the company of another person. Nearly one quarter of all two person journeys and three out of every ten journeys with three persons or over were for this purpose.

Go to next chapter >>> Why we travelled