2024 Household Travel Survey captures evolving travel patterns in Kingston

The ways that people get around Kingston—on foot, by rolling, by bike, on transit, by car or carpooling, among others—are evolving. Data from the most recent Kingston Moves Household Travel Survey offer a detailed look at how residents travelled on a typical weekday, and how those patterns have shifted since the survey was last conducted in 2019.

The anonymous survey was conducted in fall 2024 by R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd., an independent research firm. Households were randomly selected and invited to participate online or by phone, reporting travel activity for all household members aged five and older over a 24-hour weekday period.

Over 3,500 households completed the survey. The expanded survey results represent permanent residents and seasonal students spanning urban and rural Kingston.

“Travel behaviour varies considerably depending on where residents live in the city, and understanding those differences is important to ensure our transportation planning reflects the needs of all Kingston residents,” says Matt Kussin, Manager of Transportation Policy and Programs.

Surveys are generally carried out every five years to keep up to date on travel trends and to understand how City infrastructure and policies impact residents’ travel choices.

The survey results are informing work on the City’s Integrated Mobility Plan and future transportation planning work.

Key survey findings

Survey results show changes in how residents travel, including the number of trips taken and how people get around during the week.

Households now make slightly fewer trips

• Kingston residents make over 400,000 trips each weekday.
• On average, households now make 5.66 trips per day, a 12 per cent decrease from 2019.

Walking trips on the rise

• Walking represents 23 per cent of all weekday trips, up from 18 per cent in 2019.
• Combined with cycling and transit, active and sustainable modes account for approximately one-third of all weekday trips, while driver and passenger trips have each declined by about two percentage points.

More residents report working from home

• The proportion of residents working exclusively from home has increased from 8 per cent in 2019 to 13 per cent in 2024.
• Among full-time workers with a usual workplace, nearly one in four reported working from home at least one day per week.

Explore the detailed survey results in the final report on the City’s website.

Stay informed about other transportation planning projects

The survey is one part of a broader transportation planning process currently underway. Get involved and share your feedback on the following projects:

• The Integrated Mobility Plan, to develop a new long-term transportation plan for Kingston.
• The Transit Service Review, to consider how our existing transit system can evolve to meet the changing needs of the community.
• The Micromobility Regulations Strategy, to ensure people of all ages and abilities can use lightweight travel options safely on Kingston’s streets, paths and trails.

A separate voluntary School Travel Survey conducted in fall 2025 provides additional insight into how students travel to and from school. View the survey results on the project page.