This report analyses the mobility and travel patterns of economically inactive housewives. Data from the 1975/76 national travel survey are supplemented by the results from a review of available literature. The proportion of housewives holding driving licences is lower than the population average. Furthermore, many housewives living in car owning households do not have a car available to use during normal working hours. Most independent journeys by housewives are made during this period. A large proportion of journeys by housewivews are short walk journeys. If housewives have no car available to use, they often prefer to walk to nearby facilities rather than use buses to reach better facilities further away. This is especially the case if a car is available to make longer journeys in the evenings or at weekends, or if the housewife has to take her young children with her. Most housewives living in towns have good access to local facilities which reduces their absolute dependence on travelling by car or bus to meet their activity requirements. Housewives shopping and school escort journeys are appraised in the light of these trends. A comparison is made between the mobility and travel patterns of housewives and those of working women. (Author/publisher)
Abstract