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Indicator 16. Travel: mode

Percentage of journeys to work not using car

Source: Office for National Statistics, Labour Force Survey ( LFS); Scottish Executive, Scottish Household Survey ( SHS)

The relevance of the indicator

Cars do not use resources as efficiently as other forms of transport. Encouraging people to travel to work without using their car is a good way of using resources better, as well as cutting pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and congestion on our roads.

Detailed definition and source details

The indicator is defined as the percentage of adults, whose current situation is best described as self-employed, employed full or part-time, and who do not work from home, that do not use a car (or van) to travel to work. The data are from annual results of the Scottish Household Survey ( SHS), which is commissioned by the Scottish Executive and has been running since 1999 ¹. This survey covers private households and adults in private residence. It has a large sample, so can provide statistics for different types of area within Scotland. Similar results for Scotland as a whole can be obtained from the Labour Force Survey ( LFS) for 1992 onwards, and for some earlier years from the Censuses of Population ².

Trends

The SHS figures suggest a slight fall in the percentage of journeys to work that are not by car (or van) between 1999 and 2003. The results of the Labour Force Survey and the Census show larger falls over the longer term.

Further disaggregation

The SHS results can be disaggregated in many ways, including by age, gender, social class, household income band, distance between home and work, local authority and "urban" and "rural" areas. Irrespective of whether the area is urban or rural, less than half of all workers usually travel to work other than by car (or van). About 40% of those living in large urban areas and "remote" small towns use modes other than a car (or van) for journeys to and from work. This compares with slightly under 20% for those living in "accessible" rural areas. (See the Annex for details of the SHS "urban" and "rural" categories used below).

Source: Scottish Executive, Scottish Household Survey ( SHS)

Percentage of journeys to work not using car (or van) by "urban" / "rural" category, SHS whole year

Source: Scottish Executive, Scottish Household Survey ( SHS)

Target

To increase the proportion of non-car travel to work by 2006.

Action

Tackling rising road traffic levels and congestion depend on achieving modal shift away from the car to public transport, walking and cycling. A significant public transport mode share can be achieved where there are regular services but public transport must be capable of catering effectively for the journeys being made, be reliable and be accessible. We are committed to delivering improvements including: delivering rail links to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports; reopening the Airdrie to Bathgate railway; constructing the Larkhall to Milngavie line; redeveloping Waverley station in Edinburgh in co-operation with the Strategic Rail Authority; investing in a tram network in Edinburgh; and supporting construction of the Borders railway.

Footnotes

1 Detailed results are published annually in Chapter 12 of Scottish Transport Statistics, and in the annual Household Transport…, and biennial Transport across Scotland …, statistical bulletins of Transport-related results from the SHS which are available on the Scottish Executive website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/transtat/latest

2 Published in chapter 12 of Scottish Transport Statistics.

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