72% of 19-23 year olds say they use public transport more now than three years ago

  • Expressway survey of young adults outside Dublin shows that 16 per cent of 19-23 year olds use public transport as their main mode of transport
  • Almost half of young adults use public transport to get to university or college, with 60 per cent doing so on a daily or weekly basis
  • 14 per cent of young adults keen to reduce their carbon footprint, while a large majority report an increase in the cost of motoring
  • More than four in ten do not have a TFI Young Adult Leap card, which would cut their fares in half, including on intercity travel booked online at expressway.ie

72 per cent of young adults say that they are using public transport more now than three years ago, according to an Expressway survey conducted among 19-23 year-olds outside of Dublin. This is a significant increase in the number of young people choosing public transport over private cars. Expressway is Bus Éireann’s commercial intercity service, the largest in the country with 14 national routes.

The survey, commissioned by Expressway and conducted by Bounce Insights among 515 young adults found that currently, 16 per cent of young adults outside Dublin use public transport as their main mode of transport.

When asked why they use public transport more now

  • 38 per cent say that it is the cheapest option
  • 31 per cent say it is the most efficient option
  • 29 per cent cite the recent decision by the Government to reduce fares on public transport

14 per cent of those surveyed also referred to the environmental impact of car usage, saying that they wished to reduce their carbon footprint.

Taking the bus or coach is the more sustainable choice for environmentally conscious young people, contributing to a reduction in the number of private cars on our roads while Bus Éireann is introducing zero and low emission vehicles to its fleet.

The survey reveals that cost is the major factor for young adults switching to public transport. Of those who drive, a large majority report that the cost of motoring has increased for them in the past year.

SAVINGS

Earlier this year, the National Transport Authority (NTA) introduced a 50% fare reduction for 19-23 year-olds and students aged 24 years and above who use a Transport for Ireland (‘TFI’) Student or Young Adult Leap card. In September this was extended to young adult passengers booking online on Expressway. 

Despite half of young adults using public transport to get to university or college, with 60 per cent doing so on a daily or weekly basis, more than four in ten (41 per cent) do not have a TFI Student or Young Adult Leap card, missing out on substantial savings. For example, an adult single fare on Expressway from Sligo to Dublin is €21, this would be just €10.50 with a TFI Young Adult Leap card booked online.  The same journey would cost c.€37 in diesel for a car journey.

Of the 40% those who do not have a TFI Young Adult Leap card

  • 23 per cent say they do not know where to get one
  • 19 per cent were unaware of the savings that they could make

TFI Student and Young Adult Leap cards can only be purchased on leapcard.ie, application takes only a few minutes and cards are sent directly by post. 

The 50% discount is only available to holders of Student and Young Adult Leap Cards who book in advance, online at expressway.ie.  Bookings can be made up to five minutes prior to departure time.

Eleanor Farrell, Chief Commercial Officer of Bus Éireann, said:

‘We are delighted to see that young adults are increasingly choosing public transport to connect with who and what matters to them.

‘Whether it is for travelling to college, work or for socialising, there has never been a better time to be a public transport user, or to try public transport for the first time.

‘The recent fare reduction means that there are significant savings to be made by taking public transport, which could result in students and young adults cutting their annual commuting costs by half.

‘I am also delighted to see that of the young adults outside Dublin who are switching to public transport, 55 per cent are choosing Bus Éireann or Expressway services. A KPMG study of our student and young adult passengers showed that 83 per cent regard us as an essential service, and two-thirds say that we positively influence their lives.

‘On top of fare reductions, travelling by coach allows passengers to sit back and relax, listening to their favourite podcast, catching up with friends on social media or doing a last-minute assignment before college.

‘We are urging young adults, those aged 19-23 who have not already done so, to take advantage of the savings on offer by getting a TFI Student or Young Adult Leap card, and to book online on Expressway.ie’

For more information on how to purchase a TFI Leap card, visit their website https://about.leapcard.ie/

Tuesday, 6th December, 2022