Statistical Bulletin Transport Series Scottish Household Survey: Travel Diary 2009/2010

1. Main points

Travel patterns

1.1 In 2009/2010, 75 per cent of respondents reported travel the previous day; men were more likely to have travelled than women (77% vs 74%). [Table 11]

1.2 Those aged 80 and over carried out the least travel (45%) in 2009/2010. This age group experienced the greatest decline in travel between 2007 and 2010. [Tables 1, 11]

1.3 There was an overall decrease of 6 percentage points in those travelling the previous day between 2007 and 2010. [Table 1]

1.4 The majority of journeys were undertaken in urban areas - 64 per cent compared to only 21 per cent in rural areas with the remaining 15 per cent in small towns.

Mode of travel

1.5 Just over half of all journeys in 2009/2010 were as a driver and over a third were by sustainable modes of transport (walking, cycling and public transport). [Table 12]

1.6 Men were more likely to drive than women (58% vs 45%) although women were more likely to walk or be a car or bus passenger than their male counterparts. [Table 12]

1.7 Car usage increased with income; bus usage decreased. Thirty per cent of respondents in households with income up to £10,000 p.a. drove and 15 per cent took the bus compared to 67 per cent and 4 per cent respectively for those with household incomes of over £40,000 per annum. [Table 12]

1.8 The average number of occupants in a car/van was 1.6 across Scotland. Commuting journeys had a lower average number of occupants per vehicle (1.2); weekend journeys and those for leisure purposes had a higher average number of occupants per vehicle (1.8-2.5). [Table 19]

Purpose of travel

1.9 Over a quarter of journeys were for commuting in 2010 - a 3 percentage point increase from 2007. Twenty-three per cent were for shopping, consistent with other years. [Table 3]

1.10 Men and those in households with higher incomes were more likely to have travelled for business or commuting purposes. Journeys for shopping or to visit friends/relatives were more common amongst women and those in lower income households. [Table 13]

Day and time of travel

1.11 The percentage of journeys during the week peaked during the morning and evening rush hours. Weekend journeys peaked around midday to 1pm. [Figure 12]

1.12 Rail and bus journeys were most common during the week. This makes sense since these modes are more common for journeys for commuting or education purposes. [Tables 12, 18]

1.13 The older the respondent, the less likely they were to travel after 6.30pm - 8 per cent of those aged 80 and over compared to 22 per cent of 16-19 year olds. [Table 17]

Distance and duration

1.14 Sixty-two per cent of journeys were less than 5 km in 2009/2010, with almost half being less than 3km (39% were less than 2km and 24% less than 1km). [Table 14]

1.15 In 2009/2010, the average (mean) journey distance was 11 km, compared to a median of only 3 km. This shows that half of all journeys were 3km or less. [Table 15]

1.16 Over 65 per cent of journeys in urban areas were under 5km compared to less than 45 per cent in rural areas; conversely, less than 10 per cent of journeys in urban areas were 20km or over with around one fifth of rural journeys covering the same distance. [Table 14]

1.17 In 2010, a lower proportion of journeys were 1-3km in length and less than 10 minutes in duration than in previous years. Conversely, a higher proportion of journeys were at least 20km and 21-120 minutes compared to previous years. [Tables 4, 6]

Congestion

1.18 Ten per cent of driver journeys were delayed by congestion in 2010 - in line with 2009 levels but a 4 percentage point decrease since 2007 (similar to 2003 levels). This figure provides an update to the indicator used in the Scottish Government's National Performance Framework. [Table 10]

1.19 Twelve per cent of service bus journeys suffered delays in 2010. Congestion was given as the most common reasn for delays to bus journeys with 59 per cent stating this reason for their delay. [Tables 10, 25]