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LOCO data report · Census 2022
Half of the 850,852 people who travel to work from homes in Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow drive there (50.2%), and about one in twenty cycles (5.2%), according to Census 2022. Cycling is concentrated in Dublin City, reaching 17.4% in Kimmage-Rathmines. In Kildare, Meath and Wicklow about two in three commuters drive and just over 1% cycle.
LOCO sells e-bikes and e-scooters. This page uses public data only; our own sales and enquiry figures are not included.
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How to read it. Shares are of people who travel to work (or to school, college or childcare), following the CSO’s method: people who mainly work from home are left out, and people who did not say how they travel stay in the total. “Work from home” is the share of all workers. “No car at home” is the share of households with no car. Council and county figures are sums of their local areas; County Dublin is the four Dublin councils together.
E-bikes and e-scooters. The census has no separate category for either. E-bike riders are most likely counted under bicycle; e-scooter riders under motorcycle or scooter, or other.
Source. CSO, Census of Population 2022, Small Area Population Statistics SAP2022T11T1LEA22 and SAP2022T15T1LEA22 (15 September 2023), CC BY 4.0. Boundaries: CSO Local Electoral Areas 2022 via the CSO Census Hub, based on Tailte Éireann data, CC BY 4.0. Map and calculations by LOCO.
Thinking about an e-bike for your commute? Build a Cycle to Work quote for your employer in a few minutes.
01 · The gradient
The further from Dublin City people live, the more likely they are to drive. A commuter in Dublin City is about 14 times as likely to cycle to work as one in Meath.
Census 2022, taken on 3 April 2022, is still the only source that shows how every worker gets to work, broken down by where they live. The CSO publishes it for 51 local electoral areas across Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.
| Area | People who travel to work | Drive | Bus | Train, DART or Luas | Walk | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin City | 259,867 | 29.8% | 15.2% | 6.9% | 17.7% | 10.2% |
| Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | 85,751 | 50.0% | 9.2% | 15.1% | 8.0% | 7.4% |
| Fingal | 134,554 | 55.2% | 11.6% | 8.0% | 5.4% | 2.7% |
| South Dublin | 121,907 | 56.6% | 12.5% | 3.4% | 5.6% | 4.3% |
| Kildare | 100,593 | 65.0% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 6.0% | 1.4% |
| Meath | 89,471 | 67.8% | 5.5% | 1.4% | 5.6% | 0.7% |
| Wicklow | 58,709 | 63.5% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 7.3% | 1.2% |
| Greater Dublin Area | 850,852 | 50.2% | 10.6% | 6.4% | 9.7% | 5.2% |
| Ireland | 2,034,271 | 59.0% | 5.9% | 3.0% | 8.8% | 3.0% |
Source: CSO, Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (SAP2022T11T1LEA22), published 15 September 2023. Council, regional and national rows are our sums. Shares exclude people who mainly work from home and include people who did not say how they travel, as in CSO figures.
Driving rises from 29.8% in Dublin City to 50.0% in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, 55–57% in Fingal and South Dublin, and 63.5–67.8% in Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Cycling falls the other way. Rail follows the DART and commuter lines, peaking at 15.1% in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
02 · Cycling
The highest cycling shares are all in Dublin City. The lowest are in the commuter counties: Kells (0.43%), Clane (0.54%), Baltinglass (0.58%), Laytown-Bettystown (0.61%) and Trim (0.64%). That is more than one in six against fewer than one in 200.
Share of people who travel to work, highest five of 51 areas. Kimmage-Rathmines: 4,683 people.
03 · Driving
Across Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, 65.7% of commuters drive, and vans carry another 7–9%, against 2.4% in Dublin City. It is not only a commuter-belt habit: Firhouse-Bohernabreena (66.0%), Rush-Lusk (61.5%) and Lucan (60.1%) drive at the same levels.
Share of people who travel to work, highest five of 51 areas.
04 · Since the census
The city centre keeps moving away from the car. The wider region hasn't.
There has been no census since 2022, so newer evidence comes from counts and surveys. They measure different things, so read them side by side rather than as one trend.
In the NTA's November 2024 Canal Cordon count, 74.1% of people coming into central Dublin in the morning peak used sustainable transport, the highest ever. Preview figures for November 2025, presented to Dublin City Council, put the car's share below 25% for the first time. The full 2025 report had not been published as of 7 November 2026.
10,646 people cycled across the canals in the November 2024 morning peak, 13% more than in 2023 but 19% below the 2019 peak.
The NTA's National Household Travel Survey put the car at 56% of all trips in Dublin City and suburbs and 63% across the Greater Dublin Area in 2024, both up two points on 2023.
The NTA's 2025 Walking and Cycling Index found 12% of Dublin adults cycle five or more days a week, up from 8% in 2023, and cycling trips to work rose from 23.2 million to 30 million a year. The share who cycle at all fell slightly, from 36% to 34%.
TomTom ranked Dublin the third most congested city in the world in 2025, at 34 minutes 29 seconds to drive 10 km.
05 · E-bikes
The census asks for one main way of travelling, from a fixed list. That list has "bicycle" and "motorcycle or scooter", but nothing for e-bikes or e-scooters. E-bike riders most likely ticked bicycle, and e-scooter riders motorcycle or scooter, or other. So no official source can tell you how many people commute by e-bike in Dublin.
of Dublin residents said access to an electric bike would help them cycle, up from 36% in 2023 (NTA Walking and Cycling Index 2025). That demand is the best signal there is.
LOCO's view
We think the next shift happens in Dublin's outer suburbs, not the city centre. The city centre already walks, cycles and takes the bus. In Fingal and South Dublin, 55–57% of commuters still drive, yet the average straight-line commute there was 8.6–11.7 km in 2016. That is a comfortable e-bike distance, and an e-bike takes the hills and the headwind out of it.
Green: under 15 km, our rule of thumb for an easy e-bike commute. 2016 is the latest year the CSO published distances for every county.
The case is weaker further out. Many journeys from Kildare, Wicklow and Meath end in Dublin, so for most people there an e-bike makes more sense for trips within town or to the train station than for the whole journey. The census cannot see those combined trips because it only records the longest part.
There are real barriers too. Only 59% of Dublin residents think cycling in their area is safe (Walking and Cycling Index 2025), and safety is the biggest reason people give for not cycling. Weather, storage at home and showers at work matter as well. We think more separated cycle paths would do more for these numbers than any bike.
06 · What it means
If your commute is under about 15 km, an e-bike is worth pricing against your car costs. Through the Cycle to Work scheme your employer buys the bike and you repay it from your gross salary over up to 12 months, so you save income tax, USC and PRSI on it.
The scheme costs little to run, and in suburbs and towns where most staff drive, it gives people a real alternative to sitting in traffic.
Ready to price an e-bike for your commute? Build a Cycle to Work quote for your employer in a few minutes.
07 · FAQ
In Census 2022, 41,673 people living in the four Dublin council areas cycled to work, 6.9% of those who travel to work. In Dublin City alone it was 26,458 people, or 10.2%.
Kimmage-Rathmines, where 17.4% of people who travel to work cycle. Pembroke, South West Inner City and Clontarf follow at 12.6–13.0%.
427,080 people, or 50.2% of those who travel to work from homes in Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow (Census 2022).
Ratoath in Co. Meath, where 70.8% of people who travel to work drive. Clane, Baltinglass, Trim and Naas follow at 68.6–69.8%.
No. The census has no e-bike or e-scooter category, so e-bike commuters are most likely counted as cyclists.
Yes, but not by local area. The NTA's canal count, household travel survey and Walking and Cycling Index cover 2023 to 2025. They show the city centre moving further from the car while car use across the wider region edged up.
Yes, up to €1,500 including safety equipment, or €3,000 for a cargo e-bike, if your employer runs the scheme.
08 · The data
Every local electoral area in Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, from the same Census 2022 tables as the map.
| Local electoral area | Council | People who travel to work | Drive | Bus | Train, DART or Luas | Walk | Cycle | Work mainly from home (of all workers) | Households with no car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artane-Whitehall | Dublin City | 21,117 | 42.8% | 19.4% | 2.1% | 10.7% | 6.5% | 8.7% | 25.0% |
| Ballyfermot-Drimnagh | Dublin City | 20,674 | 37.8% | 16.8% | 4.3% | 9.4% | 7.1% | 7.2% | 31.3% |
| Ballymun-Finglas | Dublin City | 23,068 | 39.8% | 18.4% | 1.2% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 6.5% | 28.9% |
| Cabra-Glasnevin | Dublin City | 28,782 | 29.0% | 16.6% | 9.1% | 15.5% | 11.4% | 12.3% | 33.7% |
| Clontarf | Dublin City | 23,342 | 41.4% | 16.6% | 9.1% | 9.4% | 12.6% | 15.7% | 19.9% |
| Donaghmede | Dublin City | 19,271 | 46.0% | 12.7% | 15.1% | 6.1% | 4.7% | 12.4% | 18.9% |
| Kimmage-Rathmines | Dublin City | 26,975 | 32.2% | 16.4% | 3.4% | 16.3% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 32.0% |
| North Inner City | Dublin City | 35,108 | 11.1% | 14.6% | 8.8% | 26.9% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 62.9% |
| Pembroke | Dublin City | 20,240 | 26.5% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 27.5% | 13.0% | 16.2% | 30.0% |
| South East Inner City | Dublin City | 19,835 | 13.8% | 9.3% | 5.4% | 38.5% | 9.6% | 12.7% | 57.2% |
| South West Inner City | Dublin City | 21,455 | 18.1% | 15.5% | 8.1% | 23.1% | 12.8% | 12.2% | 50.2% |
| Blackrock | Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | 12,269 | 47.9% | 13.8% | 9.5% | 8.9% | 10.1% | 19.3% | 12.9% |
| Dundrum | Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | 11,729 | 47.3% | 6.1% | 18.3% | 7.6% | 11.0% | 17.9% | 14.6% |
| Dún Laoghaire | Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | 16,596 | 43.7% | 11.2% | 17.0% | 10.6% | 8.3% | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Glencullen-Sandyford | Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | 19,750 | 51.2% | 5.2% | 20.0% | 8.0% | 4.9% | 18.1% | 13.6% |
| Killiney-Shankill | Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | 14,731 | 56.6% | 10.3% | 12.5% | 4.9% | 3.7% | 16.4% | 11.1% |
| Stillorgan | Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | 10,676 | 53.9% | 10.0% | 9.2% | 7.6% | 8.9% | 20.0% | 11.4% |
| Balbriggan | Fingal | 15,266 | 57.5% | 6.3% | 11.8% | 7.6% | 1.1% | 12.3% | 13.5% |
| Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart | Fingal | 17,277 | 49.9% | 16.0% | 2.0% | 6.0% | 3.3% | 8.0% | 14.9% |
| Castleknock | Fingal | 18,836 | 54.5% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 5.2% | 4.7% | 13.9% | 9.9% |
| Howth-Malahide | Fingal | 26,000 | 55.0% | 8.5% | 15.4% | 5.0% | 3.1% | 16.6% | 8.9% |
| Ongar | Fingal | 19,030 | 55.8% | 12.5% | 6.1% | 3.5% | 2.5% | 10.0% | 7.9% |
| Rush-Lusk | Fingal | 16,144 | 61.5% | 7.4% | 10.1% | 4.2% | 1.2% | 13.8% | 7.1% |
| Swords | Fingal | 22,001 | 53.5% | 17.9% | 0.6% | 6.7% | 2.4% | 10.5% | 12.1% |
| Clondalkin | South Dublin | 21,942 | 56.2% | 10.4% | 3.6% | 5.6% | 3.1% | 8.2% | 13.7% |
| Firhouse-Bohernabreena | South Dublin | 15,370 | 66.0% | 11.1% | 1.0% | 3.0% | 4.7% | 13.8% | 5.3% |
| Lucan | South Dublin | 24,186 | 60.1% | 16.2% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 11.2% | 7.3% |
| Palmerstown-Fonthill | South Dublin | 8,680 | 48.4% | 16.9% | 0.7% | 8.2% | 4.1% | 5.7% | 20.5% |
| Rathfarnham-Templeogue | South Dublin | 19,860 | 59.7% | 12.7% | 1.8% | 4.9% | 9.9% | 15.4% | 9.1% |
| Tallaght Central | South Dublin | 14,583 | 48.1% | 10.3% | 6.6% | 10.9% | 3.0% | 7.6% | 19.8% |
| Tallaght South | South Dublin | 17,286 | 51.7% | 10.4% | 7.1% | 6.6% | 2.5% | 7.0% | 20.5% |
| Athy | Kildare | 10,889 | 66.6% | 1.1% | 2.6% | 6.2% | 0.9% | 9.2% | 10.5% |
| Celbridge | Kildare | 9,404 | 64.0% | 11.2% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 1.7% | 13.1% | 6.8% |
| Clane | Kildare | 12,711 | 69.8% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 0.5% | 10.6% | 5.5% |
| Kildare | Kildare | 12,191 | 64.7% | 3.2% | 4.1% | 5.6% | 1.0% | 8.8% | 10.5% |
| Leixlip | Kildare | 6,689 | 57.4% | 9.3% | 10.0% | 6.6% | 2.4% | 14.2% | 7.8% |
| Maynooth | Kildare | 14,039 | 61.0% | 5.5% | 8.4% | 6.6% | 1.5% | 15.0% | 8.2% |
| Naas | Kildare | 19,343 | 68.6% | 3.7% | 5.4% | 6.2% | 1.9% | 12.8% | 6.5% |
| Newbridge | Kildare | 15,327 | 63.4% | 3.2% | 4.8% | 8.7% | 1.6% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| Ashbourne | Meath | 13,812 | 68.2% | 6.8% | 0.8% | 6.3% | 0.7% | 11.6% | 5.0% |
| Kells | Meath | 13,713 | 66.8% | 3.1% | 0.2% | 5.8% | 0.4% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Laytown-Bettystown | Meath | 16,115 | 67.9% | 6.6% | 2.7% | 4.0% | 0.6% | 11.6% | 7.2% |
| Navan | Meath | 15,926 | 64.4% | 6.5% | 0.3% | 8.8% | 1.2% | 8.8% | 11.9% |
| Ratoath | Meath | 16,309 | 70.8% | 6.0% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 0.7% | 13.4% | 3.9% |
| Trim | Meath | 13,596 | 68.7% | 3.6% | 1.1% | 5.6% | 0.6% | 10.6% | 6.2% |
| Arklow | Wicklow | 10,335 | 65.7% | 1.8% | 1.3% | 9.0% | 0.8% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| Baltinglass | Wicklow | 10,840 | 69.5% | 1.9% | 0.4% | 5.7% | 0.6% | 11.4% | 6.7% |
| Bray East | Wicklow | 6,731 | 45.7% | 9.1% | 12.5% | 13.0% | 2.4% | 12.5% | 21.7% |
| Bray West | Wicklow | 7,487 | 60.6% | 7.2% | 5.3% | 7.1% | 2.0% | 13.7% | 8.9% |
| Greystones | Wicklow | 10,929 | 64.2% | 5.1% | 9.3% | 4.7% | 1.1% | 19.7% | 6.2% |
| Wicklow | Wicklow | 12,387 | 67.4% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 6.6% | 0.8% | 13.8% | 8.5% |
