The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) headline report, containing statistics for 2013-2015, 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 Northern Ireland residents by mode of travel and purpose of journey.
The publication is available on the ASRB website at:
Key Points
The key points for 2013-2015 are:
- Over the time period 2013-2015, each person in Northern Ireland travelled on average 5,827 miles per year (approximately 16 miles travelled per person per day), similar to 2012-2014 (5,958 miles).
- On average, there were 901 journeys made per person per year over the period 2013-2015 (more than 2 journeys per person per day). There was no real difference when compared to 2012-2014 (908 journeys per person per year).
- The average journey length for the period 2013-2015 was 6.5 miles, around the same as 2012-2014 (6.6 miles).
- On average, 645 car journeys were taken per person per year in 2013-2015. This equates to 72% of all journeys made, around the same as previous years (back to 2010-2012).
- There were 160 walking journeys per person per year in 2013-2015. This represents 18% of all journeys made, an increase from 2010-2012 (16% of all journeys made).
- During 2013-2015, the longest journey length was for train journeys, averaging 21.5 miles. In contrast, the shortest journeys were walks which were 0.9 miles on average.
- In 2013-2015, 23% of journeys were made for leisure purposes (visiting friends at private home/elsewhere, entertainment/social activities, sports, holiday/day trip), 18% for shopping, 15% for commuting and 12% for personal business (for services such as bank, doctor or library). This is in line with results from previous years included in the report (back to 2010-2012).
- In terms of miles travelled, 31% of the distance travelled was for leisure purposes (see definition above), 21% for commuting, 13% for shopping and 11% for personal business. These results are similar to recent years (back to 2010-2012).
- In 2013-2015, the most commonly used main method of travel to or from school for the 4-11 age group was the car (55%), followed by walking or cycling (31%) and then the bus (14%).
- In 2013-2015, the most commonly used main method of travel to or from school for the 12-18 age group was the bus (48%), followed by the car (33%), and then walking or cycling (18%).
Notes to editors:
Background to TSNI 2013-2015 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 Northern Ireland are included.
TSNI reports are published annually and the earliest data available are for the 1999 to 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 Northern Ireland population over the time period 2013-2015 and includes some trend comparisons back to 2010-2012. This report will be followed by the publication of an in-depth report in September 2016, which will contain more detailed analysis of the 2013-2015 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:
Further Information
For further information please contact:
Analysis, Statistics and Research BranchDepartment for Infrastructure
Clarence Court
10-18 Adelaide Street
Belfast BT2 8GB
- Tel (press enquiries): 028 9054 0007
- Tel (public enquiries): 028 9054 0799 (Text relay prefix 18001)
- E-mail: CSRB@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
- Website: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/dfi-statistics-and-research