Traffic in Brisbane

Brisbane's transportation landscape in 2024 is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population relying on personal vehicles for their daily commutes.

Public transportation options like buses and trains are also utilized, though to a lesser extent, reflecting a diverse but car-centric commuting culture.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 24.58 minutes of driving, with minimal time spent on other modes.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend approximately 30.94 minutes on the bus, with additional time walking and waiting.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 37 minutes, making it the most time-efficient mode for longer distances.
  • Train - Train commuters spend about 44.71 minutes on the train, with significant time also spent walking and waiting.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average 24.71 minutes, suitable for shorter distances within the city.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
64%
Bus
14%
Walking
6%
Train
6%
Motorcycle
5%
Home
4%
Bicycle
2%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 127 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
15.0 miles
Walking
3.9 mins
Waiting
1.5 mins
Driving Car
24.6 mins
Bus / Trolley
5.1 mins
Bicycle
0.4 mins
Motorcycle
2.1 mins
Train
2.6 mins
Other
0.5 mins
Total:
40.6 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
10.0 miles
Walking
7.5 mins
Waiting
6.8 mins
Bus / Trolley
30.9 mins
Other
2.3 mins
Total:
47.5 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
16.2 miles
Walking
1.2 mins
Driving Car
37.0 mins
Total:
38.2 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
18.8 miles
Walking
7.6 mins
Waiting
7.9 mins
Bus / Trolley
5.4 mins
Train
44.7 mins
Other
2.7 mins
Total:
68.3 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
2.3 miles
Walking
24.7 mins
Waiting
0.9 mins
Driving Car
0.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
4.6 mins
Total:
30.4 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists visit the city, impacting commute times.

Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic as locals tend to stay indoors more often.

Commuter Pain Points

Long waiting times for buses and trains can be frustrating for commuters relying on public transport.

Traffic congestion during peak hours leads to extended commute times for car users.

Best Travel Times

Traveling outside of peak hours, such as mid-morning or early afternoon, can significantly reduce commute times.

Weekends generally offer smoother traffic conditions, especially in the city center.

Event Impacts

Major events like sports games and festivals can cause significant traffic disruptions, particularly in the city center.

Public transport services are often increased during these events to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Sustainability Efforts

Brisbane is investing in electric buses and expanding bike lanes to promote sustainable commuting.

Public awareness campaigns are encouraging residents to reduce car usage and opt for greener transport options.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have become popular, offering flexible commuting options and reducing the need for personal car ownership.

These services help alleviate parking demand in busy areas, though they can contribute to congestion during peak times.

Worldwide
Australia

Traffic Rankings

Brisbane ranks 4th on the Traffic rankings in Australia.
The Traffic Index for Australia combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Australia, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025