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Why We Travelled

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Over one third of journeys made by males in 2016 were work related journeys (35.4%), an increase of nearly five percentage points on 2014. This compares with nearly one quarter (23.9%) of all journeys made by females for the purpose of work. This follows the same pattern as in 2013 and 2014. A further one quarter (24.4%) of all journeys made by females were for the purpose of shopping, compared with nearly one fifth of journeys made by males (19.1%). Females were nearly twice as likely as males to make a journey for the purpose of accompanying another person - 19.6% of females compared with 10.1% of males. Close to one in ten journeys by females were for the purpose of visiting family or friends. Nearly 11% of journeys made by males were for entertainment, leisure or sports purposes. See table 3.1 and figures 3.1 and 3.2.

Distribution of
journeys by,
purpose 2016
Males
Other incl
eat/drink,
personal business
13.4
Companion/
escort
journey
10.1
Entertainment/
leisure/
sports
10.9
Visit family/
friends
7.9
Shopping19.1
Education3.1
Work35.4
Distribution of
journeys by,
purpose 2016
Females
Other incl
eat/drink,
personal business
10.5
Companion/
escort
journey
19.6
Entertainment/
leisure/
sports
7.7
Visit family/
friends
9.1
Shopping24.4
Education4.7
Work23.9
3.1 Percentage distribution of journeys by purpose and gender, 2013, 2014 and 2016

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Table 3.2 and figure 3.3 show the distribution of journeys by degree of urbanisation. Where a person lives does not seem to have any significant effect on the reasons for making journeys. 

 

Distribution of
journeys by,
purpose and
degree of
urbanisation 2016
Densely populated areaIntermediate density areaThinly populated area
Work3126.527.9
Education3.26.33.7
Shopping21.922.221.9
To eat or drink2.82.91.3
Visit family / friends8.58.38.8
Entertainment / leisure / sports9.38.19.8
Personal business4.76.27.2
Companion / escort journey14.415.716.2
Other4.23.83.2
3.2 Percentage distribution of journeys by purpose and degree of urbanisation, 2012, 2013 and 2016

Table 3.3: Percentage distribution of journey purpose by distance, 2013, 2014 and 2016
Purpose 2013 2014 2016Unweighted 2016 sample (journeys taken by persons aged 18 years or over)
 <2 kms2<4 kms4<6 kms6<8 kms8+ kms <2 kms2<4 kms4<6 kms6<8 kms8+ kms <2 kms2<4 kms4<6 kms6<8 kms8+ kms
  %%%%% %%%%% %%%%% 
Work 16.419.122.523.432.9 15.220.321.822.633.4 17.424.427.333.338.12,881
Education 6.64.84.13.33.8 5.16.35.04.93.2 6.44.04.13.22.5321
Shopping 30.325.422.121.218.0 31.429.323.920.918.3 29.222.821.719.917.62,525
To eat or drink 3.41.91.81.91.3 2.72.02.21.11.2 3.92.32.82.11.5247
Visit family/friends 7.58.08.312.113.0 9.37.19.811.613.5 6.67.27.76.510.7920
Entertainment/leisure/sports8.310.712.711.69.1 8.19.313.110.39.9 8.610.99.39.29.01,014
Personal business5.35.46.07.07.5 4.43.95.54.96.0 5.35.24.54.06.7703
Companion/escort journey17.420.018.015.411.0 18.816.913.917.19.3 18.518.917.719.010.71,771
Other 5.04.74.44.13.5 4.94.94.86.75.2 4.24.24.92.83.3463
All purposes100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.0100.010,845
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values.

In 2016, over 17% of journeys of less than two kilometres were work related, an increase of over two percentage points on 2014. Nearly three in every ten journeys (29.2%) of less than two kilometres were for the purpose of shopping. Close to one fifth (18.5%) were companion/escort journeys and over 6% were for the purpose of education. Over 38% of journeys of eight kilometres or more were for the purpose of work. Nearly 11% of journeys of eight kilometres or more were to visit family or friends. See table 3.3 and figure 3.4.

WorkEducationShoppingVisit family/friendsEntertainment/leisure/sportsPersonal businessCompanion/escort journeyOther incl. eat or drink
<2 Kms17.46.429.26.68.65.318.58.1
2<4 Kms24.4422.87.210.95.218.96.5
4<6 Kms27.34.121.77.79.34.517.77.7
6<8 Kms33.33.219.96.59.24194.9
8+ Kms38.12.517.610.796.710.74.8
Table 3.4: Percentage distribution of journey purpose by duration, 2013 , 2014 and 2016
Purpose2013 2014 2016Unweighted 2016 sample (journeys taken by persons aged 18 years or over)
15 mins or less16-30 mins31-45 mins46-60 mins>60 mins 15 mins or less16-30 mins31-45 mins46-60 mins>60 mins 15 mins or less16-30 mins31-45 mins46-60 mins>60 mins
 %%%%% %%%%% %%%%%
Work19.730.340.533.526.6 20.230.141.128.128.1 22.035.544.741.135.02,881
Education4.54.45.54.06.4 4.44.56.34.93.1 3.94.73.43.91.2321
Shopping26.920.610.812.87.3 28.920.613.512.98.3 26.219.515.212.19.42,525
To eat or drink2.21.81.50.80.7 2.21.31.70.60.5 2.92.60.60.20.3247
Visit family/friends9.410.910.210.517.6 9.312.011.214.918.3 7.59.18.79.915.8920
Entertainment/leisure/sports7.710.813.618.818.3 7.812.010.518.115.5 7.69.110.716.019.41,014
Personal business6.16.16.58.210.7 5.14.74.35.89.3 5.95.65.24.07.3703
Companion/escort journey19.511.16.94.95.6 17.89.96.24.27.7 20.110.88.86.16.01,771
Other3.94.04.56.56.9 4.45.05.210.49.2 3.93.22.76.75.6463
All purposes100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0 100.0100.0100.0100.0100.010,845
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values.

Over one quarter (26.2%) of journeys that took 15 minutes or less to complete were for the purpose of shopping, a slight decrease on 2014. Just over one fifth (20.1%) were companion or escort journeys. Over one fifth (22%) of journeys of less than two kilometres were for the purpose of work while 35% of journeys of more than one hour duration were work related, an increase of nearly seven percentage points on 2014. Nearly one fifth of journeys (19.4%) of over an hour in duration were for the purpose of entertainment, leisure or sports and nearly 16% were visiting family or friends. See table 3.4 and figure 3.5.

WorkEducationShoppingVisit family/friendsEntertainment/leisure/sportsPersonal businessCompanion/escort journeyOther incl. eat or drink
15 mins or less223.926.27.57.65.920.16.8
16-30 mins35.54.719.59.19.15.610.85.8
31-45 mins44.73.415.28.710.75.28.83.3
46-60 mins41.13.912.19.91646.16.9
>60 mins351.29.415.819.47.365.9
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Nearly three in every ten journeys (29.2%) by car (either as driver or passenger) for Dubliners were for the purpose of work, an increase of nearly seven percentage points on 2014.  This compares with 28.6% for persons living outside of Dublin. Nearly 45% of journeys by public transport for persons living in Dublin were work related compared with 28% of journeys by people residing outside of Dublin. Nearly 28% of all walking or cycling journeys by Dubliners were for the purpose of work while over one fifth (21.8%) were for shopping purposes. See table 3.5.

3.5: Percentage distribution of journeys by purpose and by mode for Dublin and all regions excluding Dublin

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In 2016, the proportion of journeys which were undertaken for work related reasons was highest amongst 18-34 year olds (35.7%), an increase of nearly five percentage points on 2014. Journeys made for the purpose of education showed a similar pattern with nearly 10% of all journeys made by 18-34 year olds for this purpose. Companion or escort journeys by the 35-54 age group were nearly twice those taken by persons aged between 18 and 34 years. Over one fifth of all journeys (21.4%) made by 35-54 year olds were companion or escort journeys. Over 22% of all journeys undertaken by persons aged 55 years and over were for the purpose of visiting family or friends or for entertainment, leisure or sports purposes. See table 3.6 and figure 3.6.

Distribution of
journeys by,
purpose
and age classification 2016
18-3435-5455+All ages
Work35.733.116.529.3
Education9.62.70.64
Shopping17.619.131.121.9
To eat or drink2.81.83.12.4
Visit family / friends9.86.810.48.6
Entertainment / leisure / sports8.28.2129.2
Personal business2.54.4115.7
Companion / escort journey11.421.4815.2
Other2.32.67.53.8
3.6 Percentage distribution of journeys by age classification, 2013, 2014 and 2016

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