Scotland is moving again as new national figures show people across the country are travelling with the same regularity they did before the pandemic slowed the world to a crawl.
Transport Scotland has released its latest Transport and Travel in Scotland report based on thousands of responses to the Scottish Household Survey.
It offers a clear picture of a nation that has settled back into familiar patterns after years of disruption and hesitation.
The statisticians found that 73% of people had travelled the day before their interview which brings Scotland almost exactly back to the level recorded in 2019.
That is a steep climb from 64% in 2023 and marks one of the strongest signs yet that daily life has steadied.
The average adult is now making 1.96 trips a day which sits right alongside the 1.94 figure recorded before the pandemic.
Driving continues to dominate and accounted for 51% of all journeys in 2024.
Walking followed at 25% which remains a reminder that for many people the simplest option is still the one on their doorstep.
A further 12% travelled as a car or van passenger, 7% used the bus and 2% took the train which remains a modest figure as rail services work to win back confidence.
The survey also charted the shifting balance of Scotland’s working life and found that homeworking is easing but still firmly embedded.
In 2024, 25% of employed people said they worked at or from home.
That is down from 29% last year but still well above the 16% recorded in 2019.
Public transport satisfaction remains steady at 64% which matches last year’s figure and suggests neither a collapse in confidence nor a sudden surge.
It is an improvement on 2022 when satisfaction slipped to 58% but it still falls short of the 68% recorded in 2019 before services were reshaped by lockdowns, staff shortages and rising costs.
The contrast between rural and urban Scotland is stark.
Only 43% of people in remote rural areas and 41% in accessible rural areas said they were satisfied with public transport.
In large urban areas the figure jumped to 75% which speaks to the difference between a timetable that works around you and a timetable you have to work around.
The report also tracked the continued rise in electric vehicles with 5.8% of driving licence holders now owning an electric car.
That is a significant increase from 1.6% in 2019 and a world away from the 0.3% recorded in 2016 when electric vehicles were still viewed as a novelty.
Yet hesitation remains stubborn.
In 2024, 56% of drivers said they would not consider buying an electric car and the reasons show a pattern that has barely shifted.
Charging concerns remain the biggest factor with 52% citing the availability or convenience of charging points.
Cost followed at 50% and battery range at 49% which reflects ongoing doubts about how far a vehicle can travel before needing to be plugged in.
