Travel Statistics

These are some points of traveling statistics with data taken from the period 1999-2001. Read them if you want and notice how people prefer alternative means of transportation to their own feet. Honestly, I can't believe we don't walk anymore... Mentioning walking, concider hitchhiking and camping. Do campers concider their tents as their homes? Has anyone of you ever camped?

• On average, Great Britain residents travelled 6,815 miles each year in the period 1999/2001. This was an increase of 5 per cent since 1989/1991, owing to the increasing length of trips. In 1989/1991, the average trip length was 5.9 miles, but this had increased by 13 per cent to 6.7 miles in 1999/2001. The average number of trips made in 1999/2001 was 1,019 per person per year, 7 per cent less than in 1989/1991.
• 28 per cent of households in Great Britain did not have access to a car in 1999/2001, compared with 33 per cent in 1989/1991. This varied from 15 per cent in rural areas to 38 per cent in metropolitan built-up areas. Only 20 per cent of people lived in households without a car as households without cars tend to be smaller than average.
• Car travel accounted for four fifths of the total distance travelled. Overall, the distance travelled by car increased by 11 per cent during the 1990s.
• The number of local bus trips made outside London dropped by 30 per cent between 1989/1991 and 1999/2001. In contrast the number of London bus trips rose 25 per cent.
• Between 1989/1991 and 1999/2001, the average length of shopping trips increased by 27 per cent, commuting trips by 17 per cent and education trips by 17 per cent.
• Walking fell by 20 per cent during the 1990s to 189 miles per person per year, accounting for under 3 per cent of the total distance travelled compared with 4 per cent in 1989/1991.

In 1999/2001:

• Men made an average of 1,031 trips per year, 2 per cent more than women, but travelled just over 8,000 miles a year, 41 per cent more than women. The difference was greatest among those aged 40-49, where men travelled 58 per cent further than women on average.
• 60 per cent of cars on the road had only one occupant. For commuting and business travel the rate was 84 per cent. 25 per cent of trips were under 1 mile, 80 per cent of which were on foot. Car was the dominant mode of transport for all trips over 1 mile.
• Those in the highest income band on average travelled over 3 times as far as those in the lowest band (11,048 miles compared with 3,396 miles).
• On average we spent about one hour a day travelling around Great Britain. Approximately 36 minutes (61 per cent) of this time was spent travelling by car and 11 minutes walking.
• Londoners travelled about 5 ½ thousand miles in the year while those living in the South East (excluding London) averaged over 8 thousand miles. In terms of distance, 39 per cent of mileage was for leisure purposes, 19 per cent for commuting, 13 per cent for shopping and 10 per cent for business travel.
• In the 17-59 year old age group, men made 27 per cent of their trips commuting to and from work, with an additional 7 per cent travelling on business. For women, only 19 per cent of trips were to and from work, and 3 per cent on business.

Elina Pissioti