Mobility in Rural Ulster: Travel Patterns, Car Ownership and Local Services

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Questionnaire surveys in three areas of rural Ulster sought information on private and public transport availability, household composition, local services, employment, and regular travel patterns. Car ownership is the most crucial factor in distinguishing people with high potential mobility from those with transport-related problems. Despite apparently high car ownership at a household level, private transport is not available to several social groups, nor to many individuals within car-owning families. Lack of mobility is poorly compensated by the distribution of local shops and other service outlets, and accessibility to the better facilities of distant towns is severely hindered by the variable standard of local bus services. Household and individual travel patterns are analysed, with respect to employment and a wide range of destination facilities. All study areas share the same basic characteristics and differ only in detail.