It is clear that to live in rural areas presents challenges with regard access to services, engaging in business, commuting to work, as well as participating in social activities.

- Travel Distance Analysis

The above analysis presents data looking at the average travel distance for various purposes, split between rural areas and the average of all area types of residence. The data was taken from the National Travel Survey 20011/12.

The average distance travelled both per trip and in total for the year is longer for virtually all purposes when living in rural areas. This has obvious implications in terms of living costs, but also presents additional hurdles for those with issues of mobility or finance.