3. Who travels most often?
Respondents with household incomes over £30,000 p.a. were more likely to have travelled on the previous day [Figure 1] as were respondents in full-time employment.
Figure 1: Adults reporting travel on the previous day, 2007/2008
3.1 In 2007 the Travel Diary began to include information on short journeys (less than 1/4 mile or less than 5 min on foot) there is a sharp increase in the proportion of adults making journeys the previous day. Therefore it is difficult to ascertain any clear long term trends from Table 8 - the following commentary discuses characteristics of those travelling within 2007 & 2008 only.
Gender and Age
3.2 Males were more likely to have travelled on the previous day than females (81% vs. 78%) a pattern apparent across all age bands over 30. Females aged 20 - 29 were just as likely to have travelled as their male counterparts whilst females aged 16 - 19 were more likely to have travelled than males of a similar age (84% vs. 78%). [ Table 11]
3.3 Respondents over 80 were the least likely to have travelled on the previous day (53% compared to the adult average of 79%) whereas those aged 20 - 29 were most likely (85%). [ Tables 8, 11]
Figure 2: Adults reporting travel, age bands, 2007/2008
Income and Employment
3.4 Unsurprisingly, full time employed workers were most likely to have travelled on the previous day (87%). The permanently sick/disabled and the retired reported less travel (62 and 68%, respectively).
3.5 Respondents in low income households (up to £10,000 p.a.) were less likely to have travelled the previous day (71%). This is much lower than higher income households (over £30,000 p.a.), which reported around 85 per cent of adults making a journey on the previous day. [Figure 1]
Area Type
3.6 A similar correlation existed in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles - households in the lowest (most deprived) quintile recorded 75 per cent of adults travelling on the previous day, compared to 83 per cent in the highest (least deprived) quintile.
3.7 There was little difference between rural and town areas - all with around a 79% likelihood in travelling the previous day. 82% of those in accessible rural areas travelled compared to 76% in remote rural areas
Car Access and Ownership
3.8 Access to a car significantly affected whether or not a respondent made a journey on the previous day. Households with no access to a car were less likely to make a journey (72%) than households with access to a car (80% if one car; 84% if two). Respondents without a full driving licence also reported a smaller fraction of journeys than respondents with full driving licences (71% vs. 83%). [Figure 3]
Figure 3: Percentage of adults travelling by car availability, 2007/2008
3.9 Car ownership and household income were also linked. In general, high income households owned more cars than lower income households. The median distance travelled is dependent on both income and car ownership. [Figure 4]
Figure 4: Median distance 1 of journeys, 2007/2008
1Some data points are not shown as they are based on information from the SHS obtained in respect of fewer than 100 people.