Scottish Household Survey: Travel Diary 2011

1. Main points

Travel patterns

1.1 Adults are travelling less now than they did in 2007. Seventy-three per cent of adults reported travel the previous day in 2011. This continued a downward trend that has seen the proportion of those reporting travel decrease by 7 percentage points since 2007. [Table 1]

1.2 As in previous years men were more likely to have travelled than women. Seventy-six per cent of men travelled the previous day compared to 71 per cent of women. [Table 1]

1.3 Older people are less likely to travel. As has generally been true in previous years, the three age groups least likely to travel were those aged 80 and over (49%), those aged 70-79 (64%), and those aged 60-69 (70%). [Table 1]

Mode of travel

1.4 Half of all journeys in 2011 were made as a driver. As in previous years the most common mode of transport was to drive a car or van (50%). The next most common mode was walking (22%).[Table 2]

1.5 Just over a third of journeys were made by public and active travel. In 2011 walking, cycling and public transport accounted for 35% of journeys, an increase of just under 2 percentage points since 2010. [Table 2]

1.6 During most car stages the driver was the only occupant of the car. In 2011 63% of car stages had only one occupant. This was an increase of 5 percentage points since 2001. [Table 9]

Purpose of travel

1.7 The most common purpose for travel was commuting. In 2011 26% of journeys were made for the purpose of commuting; a 2 percentage point increase from 2007. The next most common purpose of travel was shopping, which accounted for 21 per cent of journeys. Between them, commuting and shopping accounted for almost half of all journeys. [Table 3]

Day and time of travel

1.8 Over the course of the week the most common time to travel was between 7am and 9:30am. Journeys starting within this time period accounted for 18 per cent of journeys. [Table 7]

1.9 Travel was more likely on weekdays than on a Saturday or Sunday. [Table 8]

Distance and duration

1.10 Most journeys were short in distance and short in duration. In 2011, 61 per cent of journeys were less than 5 km (3 miles) and half were less than 3km (2 miles). Sixty-nine per cent of journeys lasted 20 minutes or less. [Table 4] [Table 6]

Congestion & Delays

1.11 Eleven per cent of driver journeys were delayed by congestion in 2011. This is in line with 2010 levels and a 3 percentage point decrease since 2007. This figure provides an update to the National Indicator used in the Scottish Government's National Performance Framework. [Table 10]

1.12 Eleven per cent of service bus journeys suffered delays in 2011. This is comparable with the figure for 2010 (12%). [Table 11]