Publication of Travel Survey For Northern Ireland 2015-2017 Headline Report

The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) headline report, containing statistics for 2015-2017, is now available. The publication is produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure and contains information on journeys taken by people living here by mode of travel and purpose of journey.

The publication is available on the ASRB website at: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/travel-survey-northern-ireland

Key Points

The key points for 2015-2017 are:

Overall

• Over the time period 2015-2017, each person travelled on average 5,647 miles per year (approximately 15 miles travelled per person per day), a decrease from 2012-2014 (5,958 miles).
• On average, there were 897 journeys made per person per year over the period 2015-2017 (just over 2 journeys per person per day), similar to 2012-2014 (908 journeys per person per year).
• The average journey length for the period 2015-2017 was 6.3 miles, lower than 2012-2014 (6.6 miles).

Mode of travel used for journeys

• On average, 624 car journeys were taken per person per year in 2015-2017.  This equates to 70% of all journeys made, a decrease from 72% in 2012-2014.
• There were 171 walking journeys per person per year in 2015-2017. This represents 19% of all journeys made, an increase from 17% in 2012-2014.
• In 2015-2017, 45 public transport journeys were made per person per year.  This equates to 5% of all journeys made, around the same as recent years (back to 2012-2014).
• During 2015-2017, the longest journey length was for train journeys, averaging 19.0 miles.  In contrast, the shortest journeys were walks which were 0.9 miles on average.

Purpose of journeys

• In 2015-2017, 24% of all journeys were made for leisure purposes (visiting friends at private home/elsewhere, entertainment/social activities, sports, holiday/day trip), 17% for shopping, 16% for commuting and 13% for personal business (for services such as bank, doctor or library).  This is in line with results from recent years (back to 2012-2014).
• In terms of miles travelled, 31% of the total distance travelled was for leisure purposes (see definition above), 22% for commuting, 12% for shopping and 11% for personal business.  These results are similar to recent years (back to 2012-2014).

Journeys to and from school

• In 2015-2017, the most commonly used main method of travel to or from school for the 4-11 age group was car, van or taxi (56%), followed by walking or cycling (32%) and then bus (12%).
• In 2015-2017, the most commonly used main methods of travel to or from school for the 12-18 age group were bus (43%) and car, van or taxi (39%), followed by walking or cycling (17%).

Journeys made by walking, cycling or public transport

• Indicator 25 of the draft Programme for Government (PfG) framework and NICS Outcomes Delivery Plan 2018/19 is the proportion of all journeys which are made by walking, cycling or public transport.  This is monitored using Travel Survey for Northern Ireland data for single years.  In 2017, just over one quarter (26%) of all journeys were taken by walking, cycling or public transport.  There has been no real change comparing 2017 to the baseline year (25% in 2015).

Notes to editors: 

Background to TSNI 2015-2017 Headline Report

The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) is a household survey and is the only source of information on how, over the region as a whole, people use different forms of transport to meet their travel needs as individuals. Only journeys within the north of Ireland are included.

TSNI reports are published annually and the earliest data available are for the 1999-2001 period.  Two reports, a headline report and an in-depth report, are published.  The headline report contains key figures on journeys taken by a representative sample of the population over the time period 2015-2017 and includes some trend comparisons back to 2012-2014. This report will be followed by the publication of an in-depth report in December 2018/January 2019, which will contain more detailed analysis of the 2015-2017 data from the TSNI.

Official Statistics

This is a National Statistics publication and therefore follows the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.  You can find further information about the Code of Practice at:

• https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/code-of-practice/

Further Information

For further information please contact:

• Tel (public enquiries): 028 9054 0799 (Text relay prefix 18001)
• E-mail: ASRB@nisra.gov.uk
• Website: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/dfi-statistics-and-research

All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or email: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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