Strike action amongst different transportation modes has become more and more prevalent in Ireland, with the bus strike in Spring and the LUAS strike last summer, according to new research from iReach Insights.
This comes after unions at Iarnród Éireann have warned of a potential all-out strike later this autumn. In a recent survey conducted by iReach Insights, 1000 adults were asked about their use of public transport in general and for commuting.
The research shows that half (53%) of the respondents use public transport. Expectedly, the highest figure is 72% for the people of Dublin and the lowest number of users are those living in Munster at 36% - half the amount of Dublin. This is most likely due to the multitude of public transport in the capital and its periphery.
Of those who commute by public transport, 42% is for the comfort and the convenience, financial reasons (37%) and due lack of parking at their destination (37%). Twenty two per cent use commuting as a time to rest/relax, 20% do it for have environmental reasons and the others use it for speed (22%), the fuel efficiency (19%), the managing of their time (17%) and their health (14%).
Of the public transport users, only 10% of respondents use public transport daily whereas 20% use it 5 days a week. Twenty per cent use it several times a week and 25% only several times a month. There are 25% who use it less often/never.
The cost of public transport varies regionally, with bus fares in Cork costing €1.80 and a similar distance could cost €2.70 in Dublin (Cash), which is reflected in the higher average spend in Dublin and Leinster compared to Munster, Connacht and Ulster. When looking at the nationwide figures; more than half of people (57%) spend less than €50 per month on transportation. Nearly one third (30%) spend €51-€100 and only 13% spend more than €100.
The survey shows there are still a lot of Irish adults who don’t use public transport (47%). With the majority (68%) of those that don’t use it, agreeing that they “prefer the car”. Forty one percent don’t use public transport because it is difficult to reach it and 27% think it would take too long to reach their destination. Their other reasons are; public transport is unreliable (21%), travelling with children (14%), feel safer in a car (11%), the weather (9%) or because public transport is too busy (8%).
Source: www.businessworld.ie
