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Scotland's People Annual report: Results from 2009/10 Scottish Household Survey

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    The latest annual survey is available -

    http://scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/08/17093111

    (Previous year - http://scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/08/25092046 )

    Stuffed full of stats. Much more on recycling than cycling.

    In "large urban areas" 40% of households don't have access to a car.

    Fewer than 50% of 17-25 year olds hold a full driving licence.

    So lots of potential for people who might like/want to cycle!

    Broadband access has gone up from 40% to 70% in last 8 years - so perhaps more people stay in...

    In 2009 the answer to "How adults usually travel to work or education" was 2% for bicycle. For this year the Household Survey says -

    "Transport Scotland publishes the SHS transport and travel data directly. The Transport and Travel in Scotland publication (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Transport-Travel/Tatis) will include information on households' access to cars and bikes, frequency of driving, modes of travel to work and school, use and opinions of public transport and access to services. Transport and Travel in Scotland 2010 is scheduled for publication 31st August 2011."

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. crowriver
    Member

    Nice optimistic reading of the figures. On the other hand, a petrolhead might say that the only people without access to a car are the poor (who can't afford one), little old ladies (who use their free bus passes), and lazy youth (who haven't got their act together and grown up yet).

    I wonder which attitude our bechauffered, helicopter fan of a First Minister would take? Notwithstanding that John Swinney is apparently a keen (sport/leisure) cyclist.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. Instography
    Member

    For my sins (and my daily bread) I manage the collection of all that data for the Government. I have the data going back to 1999. Once the Transport Scotland data is published, it will all be in the public domain.

    @crowriver - there's a substantial proportion of the urban middle classes who don't have a car. I'll tell you how big it is next week.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "there's a substantial proportion of the urban middle classes who don't have a car. I'll tell you how big it is next week"

    MMMMM Interesting.

    As ever, CCE ahead of the curve. (Or whatever the phrase is these days.)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "cycling 2.3 per cent"

    http://news.scotsman.com/transport-news/Scots-continue-to-switch-from.6828749.jp

    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/08/31085052

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. cb
    Member

    2.3%

    Is that what you would have expected?

    "Thirty-four per cent of households had access to at least one bicycle for adult use in 2010"

    That seems quite low.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    So, looking at the tables it seems:

    Numbers with access to at least one adult bicycle have remained static over the past decade.
    Cycling to work has increased over the same period, albeit from a tiny base. Cycling to school has doubled, again from a miniscule base. (No figures on recreation/sport/shopping cycling)
    The proportion of people traveling in motor vehicles to work has remained roughly the same in the past ten years, with an increase during the boom and now slipping back a bit.
    The number of two or three car households has risen over the decade.
    The number of people driving has increased, the number of car/van passengers has decreased.
    Bus use is in decline.
    Train use is increasing.

    So then, how have road traffic volumes managed to decrease? Fewer people in work (thus not needing to drive there)? Lower volumes of goods being transported due to the state of the economy? Fewer bus services?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Instography
    Member

    The decline in traffic volume is from a different source, recorded using different methods and not at all incompatible with the 67%. Economic changes would be enough to accomplish both. If there were only 3 people in work and two of them went by car you could still have 67% with almost no traffic volume.

    The cycling to work figure masks enormous geographical variations. From memory, it's about 3 times higher among adults in Edinburgh and, if I looked, it would vary hugely within Edinburgh. If 34% of households with bikes that can be used by adults seems low it means you're mixing with the wrong crowd. About 1/3 of households are pensioners so you've nearly half of non-pensioner households with bikes. The question is, if roughly half of working age households have an adult bike, how come only 2% are cycling to work? What are the rest of them doing and how can they be stopped?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    The question is, if roughly half of working age households have an adult bike, how come only 2% are cycling to work? What are the rest of them doing and how can they be stopped?

    Clearly, most of the rest of them are driving, on their own with no passengers. How to stop that? If only there was an easy answer. Given that 85% apparently believe public transport is easy to use and accessible, we can't use lack of alternatives as an excuse.

    Attitudes and mindsets need to change. But how?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "Attitudes and mindsets need to change. But how?"

    WELL...

    All the usual -

    Cycle Training for all P6s in school time.

    Councils/Governments that take cycling 'seriously' (and pedestrians too).

    Less pandering to manufacturers/owners of private motor vehicles who 'demand' the 'right' to drive/park anywhere etc.

    etc.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. crowriver
    Member

    Less pandering to manufacturers/owners of private motor vehicles who 'demand' the 'right' to drive/park anywhere etc.

    The problem with that is it takes a brave politician to go against what is (rightly or wrongly) seen as 'normal' by the majority. Persuading the 70% why they should lose out in favour of the 30% is not going to be easy. Basically drivers need to be told: "Look, we know you love your car, and you paid lots of money for it, but we want you to stop using it". One can imagine the answer from most will be "Why the hell should I?"

    Supplying the "why" is the issue.

    Meanwhile, the SNP is ploughing on with a (£2 billion?) additional Forth road bridge, a new bypass for Aberdeen, etc. Not much sign they'll provide the necessary leadership on reducing car use!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. Smudge
    Member

    A mass manufacturer to market and sell this? ;
    http://www.velomobiel.nl/allert/Recumbent%20motorbike.htm

    Realistically we are not going to remove people from motorised transport in the forseeable future, for a large number of very good reasons and a smaller number of spurious ones.
    Therefore we need people in more efficient vehicles, for road space, the environment, their own pockets etc etc.
    More cycling needs to be a part of a revolution encompassing the "conventional" transport options as well as the niche areas.

    Unfortunately I don't see movement from the main manufacturers outside of some electric variants on the current type of four wheelers :-/

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    "The problem with that is it takes a brave politician to go against what is (rightly or wrongly) seen as 'normal' by the majority."

    Yes, but.

    It's actually worse than that.

    Politicians (generally speaking) are less willing to 'lead' these days. In addition, they are not always that keen on listening.

    I'm not saying that 'most people' want more restrictions on car use (unless it's for other people of course...), but a fair number want to be able to let their kids out, walk to the shops have a pleasant neighbourhood etc.

    Instead of being helped with these desirable ideas they are more likely to be told that they are too stupid to understand - 'it's all all about the economy'.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. kaputnik
    Moderator

    A mass manufacturer to market and sell this?

    I think vehicle manufacturers must have forgotten about air resistance sometimes. I'm thinking Nissan Cube, Range Rover etc.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. crowriver
    Member

    I think what we really need to help the Scottish economy is for everyone to receive subsidies so they can drive a Hummer. The offshore oil industry would do really well, as would the importers and the shipping operations. Kwik Fit would do a roaring trade too. Then, when the oil runs out all the Hummers can be retro-fitted with incredibly inefficient electric motors and huge battery packs. Charging points can replace petrol stations. Scotland's renewables industry and Kwik Fit will make a killing. It's win-win!

    Now, let's dust off those 1960s blueprints for a motorway through Edinburgh city centre...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. tarmac jockey
    Member

    "About 1/3 of households are pensioners so you've nearly half of non-pensioner households with bikes."[i]

    That's an interesting point to bear in mind when relating these stats to a whole range of categories.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. crowriver
    Member

    How times change...

    Gummer denies the 'great car economy'
    The Independent On Sunday, 20 March 1994

    BARONESS Thatcher's vision of a 'great car economy' has been renounced by a senior Cabinet minister, marking a turning point in the Government's enthusiasm for motoring."
    <snip>
    "Whitehall is in the final throes of a review of the road-building programme which is certain to lead to the cancellation of some projects. Mr Gummer called for a reduction in the growth of the number of motor-cars and a drop in the number of two- and three- car families.
    He also backed road pricing, the implementation of motorway tolls and more expensive parking to increase the cost of motoring and encourage people to use public transport. "

    Full article here.

    Posted 12 years ago #

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