National Travel Survey 2016

In 2016, females were more likely than males to travel by car as driver - 71.2% of journeys taken by females compared with 67.4% of journeys by males. This was different from 2013 and 2014 when males and females were equally likely to travel by car as driver. Females were nearly four times more likely to travel as a passenger in a private car than males at 7.5% and 2.0% respectively. On the other hand, males were substantially more likely to travel by lorry, motorcycle or other modes (6.4%) compared with just 0.2% of females. Slightly more males than females chose to walk - 14.9% of males compared with 14.3% of females. Travel by public transport (including bus, rail, DART and LUAS) was largely similar for both males and females. See table 2.1 and figure 2.1.

In 2016, nearly two thirds of journeys (65%) taken by persons residing in densely populated areas were by car, driving to their chosen destination. This was lower than for intermediate density (71.5%) and thinly populated areas, where over three quarters of journeys (75.9%) were by car as driver. Journeys by public transport (bus, rail, DART or LUAS) taken by residents of densely populated areas were nearly three times greater than in thinly populated areas. Nearly 17% of persons living in densely populated areas walk to their chosen destination. In thinly populated areas, just over one in ten journeys involved walking as a mode of travel.  See table 2.2 and figure 2.2.

Persons living in Dublin were significantly less likely to drive than those in the rest of the country. In 2016, over half of all journeys by Dubliners (54.4%) were by car as driver compared with over three quarters of journeys taken by those living in the rest of the country (76.2%). See table 2.3(a) and figures 2.3 and 2.4. Close to three quarters and above of journeys for all regions outside of Dublin were by car as driver. The Midland region was highest at 78.7%. See table 2.3(b).

Journeys by public transport for persons living in Dublin (13.1%) were nearly seven times greater than in the rest of the country (2%). Over one quarter of journeys made by Dubliners (25.5%) were by walking or cycling  - over twice the corresponding figure for persons living outside of Dublin (12.2%). Persons residing in Dublin were significantly more likely to walk as a mode of travel - nearly twice as likely compared with the rest of the country. Over one fifth of Dubliners (21.4%) walked as a mode of travel. See tables 2.3(a) and 2.3(b) and figures 2.3 and 2.4.

In 2016, nearly two thirds (64.4%) of all journeys were solo journeys while over one in five (21.5%) were two person journeys. Just over 14% were in groups of three persons or more. Less than 2% of all journeys were in groups of five or more persons. This pattern was largely similar for 2013 and 2014. See table 2.6 and figure 2.7.

In 2016, seven in every ten solo journeys (69.2%) were by private car. Where two or more persons are travelling together, travel by private car is the most common mode of travel - nearly 82% of journeys involving two persons and 87% of journeys of three persons or more were by car. Just over 8% of journeys where the mode of travel was walking or cycling were done in groups of three persons or more. This follows the same pattern as for 2013 and 2014. See table 2.7 and figure 2.8.

In 2016, over four out of every ten solo journeys (42.3%) were for the purpose of work, an increase of over five percentage points on 2014. Over one fifth (20.9%) of solo journeys were to go shopping. 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 23% of all two person journeys and close to one quarter of journeys involving three persons or more were for this purpose. See table 2.8 and figure 2.9.