Four out of five adults in Ireland do not use public transport on a typical day and the population is still hugely reliant on travel by car, according to research conducted for Engineers Ireland.
A study by Amárach Research for the engineering professional body found that 79% of people do not typically use public transport citing the lack of nearby connections (41%), unsuitable timetables (25%), and a preference for travelling in personal space (24%) as the most common reasons not to use public transport.
The research is included in an Engineers Ireland position paper, Transport in Ireland: Connecting Sustainably, published today.
A small but significant 7% of those surveyed said concerns about their personal safety are a factor were in their decision to avoid public transport.
Additionally, 82% of respondents in rural areas and 74% in urban areas felt cycling to be unsafe, with 64% of Irish adults saying that they never cycle.
Some 83% of respondents said they completed a journey by walking at least once a week, while 82% did so using a car, 18% a bus, 8% a bicycle and 6% a train showing low regular reliance on public transport.
The Amarách survey was conducted on a representative sample or more than 1,000 Irish adults to inform the engineering body’s report, and it highlights significant challenges in public transport usage and public attitudes toward sustainable transport measures.
These findings come against the backdrop of other data from the National Transport Authority’s National Household Travel Survey, which showed that cars account for 71% of all trips in Ireland, while walking represents 18%, and public transport remains marginal. Buses and coaches make up just 4% of trips, and trains including DART and Luas only 1%.
Cycling accounts for 2% of trips highlighting the challenge of shifting travel patterns toward more sustainable modes.
Transport in Ireland: Connecting Sustainably, concludes that Ireland’s transport sector is at a critical juncture with emissions and infrastructure deficits threatening to derail the country’s climate ambitions.
The organisation said travel patterns and infrastructure deficits mean Ireland might fail to meet its legally binding targets of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
Engineers Ireland urges the Government and industry to take decisive steps to enhance Ireland’s transport system including a sustained increase in transport investment of more than 5% annually over the next decade to bring Ireland’s infrastructure in line with high-income European countries. This must be coupled with accelerated delivery of BusConnects and CycleConnects programmes, prioritising dedicated bus lanes, segregated cycle tracks, and the electrification of the bus fleet through a targeted charging infrastructure strategy.
Commenting on the research, Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland said: “Ireland’s transport system is still falling short of what is needed to deliver a sustainable future. Our research reveals that public transport is not meeting people’s needs, and safety concerns are holding back active travel.
Engineers Ireland is committed to working with policymakers, industry leaders, and communities to accelerate investment in infrastructure that makes sustainable travel a real choice for everyone. We look forward to engaging with stakeholders on how we can overcome these challenges and seize the opportunities to build a transport network that supports climate goals and improves quality of life nationwide.”