Personal travel

The average number of trips per disabled adult the day before their survey interview was 1.39 in 2023. There was a drop in the number of trips for both disabled and non-disabled people after the COVID-19 pandemic. The drop was smaller for disabled people than for non-disabled people. [Time series table 3, Figure 2]

A line chart showing that the average number of trips for both disabled and non-disabled people. There was on a slight downward trend from 2013 to 2019, but there was a noticeable drop for both groups in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Figure 2: Average number of journeys per day per adult 2013 to 2023

In 2022-23, the average number of daily journeys for those whose disability limited their activities a lot was 1.18 compared to 1.57 for those disability limited their activities a little.

Method of travel

Driving a car or van was the most common mode of transport for disabled people in 2022-23 (44% of journeys). Walking was the next most common mode of transport making up more than a quarter (27%) of the journeys made by disabled people. [Table 5, Figure 3]

Disabled people were less likely to make their journey driving a car or van than non-disabled people (44% to 56%). They were more likely to be a car or van passenger (16% to 10%) or walk (27% to 23%) than non-disabled people. [Table 5, Figure 3]

Those whose disability limited their day-to-day activities a lot were more likely to be a passenger in a car than those whose activities were limited a little (19% to 12%). [Table 5]

A bar chart showing the share of journeys by mode of transport. Driving has the biggest share for disabled people at 44%, followed by walking at 27%. Disabled people were more likely to be a passenger in a car or van than non-disabled people (16% to 10%).
Figure 3: Main mode of travel (percentages), 2022-2023 (combined)

Disabled people were less likely to possess a driving licence drive than those who were not disabled. (56% compared to 78%). [Table 20]

Disabled people were less likely to have a car available to their household than non-disabled people (56% compared to 80%). [Table 21]

A quarter of disabled people (25%) had taken a flight for leisure in the last 12 months. This was much lower than for non-disabled people (47%). [Table 31]

Method of travel to work

Over half of disabled people (51%) usually drove to work in 2023. Disabled people were more likely to take the bus to work than non-disabled people (15% to 9%). [Table 6]

Among those disabled people who didn’t use public transport to travel to work, the top reasons were ‘No direct route (28%)’, ‘Work unusual hours (23%)’ and ‘Lack of service ’ (21%). 17% said public transport was too unreliable. [Table 7]

Travel to school

School children with a long-term health condition were less likely to walk than those without a condition (40% compared to 53%). Those with a long term condition were far more likely to use a taxi than those without. (13% compared to 1%) [Table 8].

Why are people travelling?

A smaller percentage of the journeys of disabled people were to or from work (12%, compared to 24% for those who are not disabled) and a higher percentage of the journeys of disabled people were to the shops (30% compared to 22%). [Table 9, Figure 4]

A bar chart showing the share of journeys by the purpose of the journey for disabled and non-disabled people. The top purposes for disabled people are shopping (30%), visiting friends or relatives (13%), commuting (12%) and going for a walk (10%).
Figure 4: Purpose of journey (selected categories), by whether adult has a disability (percentages), 2022-2023 (combined)

Distance travelled

Disabled adults had a shorter average (median) journey (3.3 km), than those who were not disabled (4.4 km). [Table 13, Figure 5]

Those disabled people whose ability to carry out day-to-day activities was limited a lot had a shorter median journey (2.9 km) than those whose ability to carry out activities was limited a little (3.6 km). [Table 13, Figure 5]

A bar chart showing the share of journeys by the purpose of the journey for disabled and non-disabled people. The top purposes for disabled people are shopping (30%), visiting friends or relatives (13%), commuting (12%) and going for a walk (10%).
Figure 5: Average (median) journey length (km), by whether adult is disabled and whether their condition limits the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks, 2022-2023 (combined)

When only people aged under 60 who were not employed are considered, there is less difference between disabled and non-disabled people (2.6 km compared to 2.8 km), Those whose condition affected day-to-day activities a lot travelled least far (2.3km). [Table 14]

Median distance to work was lower for disabled than non-disabled people (5.5 km vs 7.9 km). [Table 15]

Time of travel

On weekdays disabled people’s journeys are more likely to be in the middle of the day when services are less busy than at peak times. For those whose disability limits activities a lot, there is an even higher proportion of travel between 9:30 and 4:30. [Table 16, Figure 6]

A bar chart showing the percentage of journeys made by time of day on a weekday. Disabled people are more likely than non-disabled people to travel mid-morning and early afternoon.
Figure 6: Percentage of journeys made on weekdays by start time of journey, by whether adult is disabled, 2022 to 2023 (combined)

Travel cost and affordability

Over half of disabled people (55%) spent nothing on car fuel. Of those who did spend on fuel, the average (mean) amount spent in the last month was £118. This was lower than for non-disabled people (£141). [Table 33]

Most disabled people (88%) spent nothing on public transport. The average (mean) weekly cost of public transport for disabled people was £6.30. [Table 34]

More than half of disabled people (59%) found it easy to afford their transport costs, but this was lower than for non-disabled people (70%). [Table 35]