The National Transport Authority (NTA) has today published its annual National Household Travel Survey.
The nationwide survey, which took place between October and December 2023, aims to examine travel habits in order to support the government’s Climate Action Plan.
This year’s survey had over 4,000 households participate, with almost 10,000 diaries completed over the two-day period. The diaries recorded 53,128 trips, with details including distance and duration of the journey, mode of transport and reason for journey.
The extensive data collected highlights several encouraging trends and provides a detailed demographic profile of travel behaviour across six distinct regions: Dublin City and Suburbs, the Greater Dublin Area, Regional Cities, Urban Towns, Rural Areas, and Other Urban Areas.
Notably, the survey achieved a 54% response rate among those initially agreeing to participate, underscoring the high level of public engagement in this important initiative.
Walking emerged as a popular mode of transport in urban areas, particularly in Dublin City and Suburbs (30%) and the Greater Dublin Area (26%), showcasing a promising trend towards more active and environmentally friendly travel choices. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger age groups, with 15-24 year olds leading the way in walking, with a national average of 25%.
The trend of using more sustainable modes of transport overall is more significant in younger age groups, with 15-24 year olds showing a higher propensity for using buses and other forms of public transport compared to older demographics who are more likely to travel by car, with those over age 65 the most likely to travel by car at 76%.
While car does remain the dominant form of transport nationally at 71% usage, a positive trend which is emerging shows that Dublin City and Suburbs have a lower car usage rate of 54% compared to 82% in rural areas.
Public transport usage also showed positive trends, with Leap card usage increasing to 29%, up from 26% the previous year. Moreover, the possession rate of Leap cards in Dublin City and Suburbs reached an impressive 64%, indicating a growing shift towards more convenient and integrated public transport options.
Similarly to previous years, the survey also clarifies the reasons behind travel, with work and business (20%), social activities (20%), education (18%), and shopping (16%) being the primary motivations. This information is crucial for designing targeted policies to address peak travel times and improve overall transport efficiency. The busiest travel period was identified between 1pm and 7pm, accounting for 47% of all trips, with a significant 11% of trips occurring between 8-9am.
The 2023 National Household Travel Survey reflects Ireland’s commitment to understanding and improving its travel infrastructure. By providing a detailed and nuanced picture of travel habits across the country, the survey equips policymakers with the data needed to promote sustainable and efficient transportation solutions. As Ireland advances its Climate Action Plan, the insights gained from this survey will play a crucial role in shaping a greener and more connected future for all residents.
The full report is available here: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/publications/national-household-travel-survey-2023/