Public transport accounts for just 4% of all journeys made in 2023
Date published:
New official accredited statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department for Infrastructure present travel patterns for Northern Ireland residents during 2022 and 2023.
Key findings
Overall results:
- On average, 828 journeys were made per person in 2023 (just over 2 journeys per day), similar to 2022 (821 journeys per person).
- In 2023, each person travelled, on average, 5,640 miles (approximately 15.5 miles per day), an increase from the previous year (4,927 miles per person in 2022).
Main mode of travel:
- Seven in ten (70%) of all journeys were made by car in 2023, with 583 car journeys per person on average, similar to 2022 (69%).
- There were 181 walking journeys per person in 2023. This represents just over one fifth (22%) of all journeys made, similar to 2022 (24%).
- In 2023, 32 public transport journeys were made per person. This equates to 4% of all journeys made, the same as 2022 (4%).
- There was an average of 9 cycling journeys per person in 2023, representing 1% of all journeys made, the same as 2022.
Purpose of journey:
- There were 296 leisure and other journeys taken per person in 2023 (visiting friends at private home/elsewhere, entertainment/social activities, sports, holiday/day trip, other including just walk, undefined purpose). This represents just over one third (36%) of all journeys made, the same as 2022 (36%).
- On average, 162 commuting and business journeys were taken per person in 2023. This equates to 20% of all journeys made, an increase compared to 2022 (17%).
Urban Rural comparison
- In 2023, people living in urban areas made around the same number of journeys, on average, as people living in rural areas (urban: 836 journeys; rural: 814 journeys). However, rural residents travelled further than urban residents (urban: 4,711 miles; rural: 7,103 miles).
About this publication
This report contains key results for the 2022 and 2023 Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI). The information collected by the TSNI includes:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Public transport
- Travelling by car
- Journey purpose
- Key figures by Urban / Rural
Further information
For the full report, background information and data tables:
Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) report 2022 and 2023 data