1365.8 - Public Transport Usage and Migration Patterns, Australian Capital Territory, Oct 1998  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/04/1999  Ceased
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MEDIA RELEASE

April 14, 1999
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
45/99
One in three used ACT public transport - ABS survey

In October 1998, about one in three persons (32%) in the Australian Capital Territory reported using public transport during a four week period, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics survey results released today. Of the total population in the ACT aged over five (272,248 people), 86,188 reported using public transport.
The survey reference period included school holidays, Floriade, Seniors Week and the Labour Day long weekend, which influenced public transport usage patterns at that time.

Of those who reported using public transport, 73,203 people (85%) reported using ACTION commuter buses, 21% reported using a taxi and only 3% reported using other bus services. Because multiple responses were possible, some may have reported using both ACTION buses and taxis.

In terms of frequency of usage, 37% of those who used ACTION buses in the reference period did so at least five days a week, whilst three out of four (75%) used the service at least once a week. Of those groups who used the ACTION bus service at least five days a week, the 15 to 24 year old age group had the highest proportion, with 52% using ACTION buses at least five days a week.

Three out of every 10 people (30%) reporting use of ACTION commuter buses nominated travel to school or place of education as their reason for usage. Just over one in five of these travellers reported using ACTION buses for both travel to work (23%) and social purposes (21%). About one in six (17%) used the service for shopping.

The survey also covered migration patterns in relation to the ACT. The four main reasons for moving to current dwellings were: family and social reasons (31%); characteristics of the property (29%); proximity to work or education (25%); and to purchase the property (20%).

For those intending to move in the next three years, the main reasons for moving were: family and social reasons (26%), proximity to work or education (23%), to purchase the property (22%) and the characteristics of the property (18%).

Proximity to work or education (36%) and family or social reasons (24%) were the main reasons for households intending to move interstate in the next three years.

Of those households intending to move within the ACT in the next three years, two out of three (66%) were intending to move to an existing dwelling. Only 1,915 (14%) intended to build or purchase a new dwelling.

Details are in Public Transport Usage and Migration Patterns, Australian Capital Territory (cat. no. 1365.8), available from ABS bookshops.