Traffic Summary for Gold Coast
In 2024, the Gold Coast continues to rely heavily on cars as the primary mode of transportation, with over 62% of commuters choosing this option. Despite the dominance of car travel, the city is making strides in promoting walking and public transport to reduce congestion and emissions.
Average Commute Times
- Bus - Bus commuters spend about 30 minutes traveling, with an additional 5 minutes waiting time.
- Car - Car users experience an average driving time of 25.29 minutes, with minimal waiting time.
- Walking - Walking commutes average around 14.75 minutes, covering a distance of 5.25 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists flock to the Gold Coast. Winter sees a slight decrease in traffic congestion, offering smoother commutes.
Commuter Pain Points
Heavy reliance on cars leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during peak hours. Limited public transport options can make commuting challenging for non-drivers.
Best Travel Times
Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are the best times to avoid traffic. Midday travel is generally smoother, except during school holidays.
Event Impacts
Major events like the Gold Coast Marathon and music festivals can significantly disrupt traffic flow. Planning ahead and using public transport during events can help mitigate delays.
Sustainability Efforts
The city is investing in expanding tram lines to encourage public transport use. Initiatives to promote cycling and walking are underway to reduce carbon footprints.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services are gaining popularity, offering flexible commuting options. These services help reduce the number of cars on the road, potentially easing congestion.
Traffic Rankings
Gold Coast ranks 7th 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.
Traffic Data
Overall average travel
Average when primarily using Bus
Average when primarily using Car
Average when primarily using Walking
"Key Takeaways"
Encouraging alternative transportation methods like cycling and public transport can help reduce CO2 emissions.
Improving public transport infrastructure could decrease commute times and traffic inefficiencies.
Key Indexes
EmissionsThe CO2 emission index is notably high at 5003.2, indicating significant environmental impact.
Efforts to reduce car dependency could help lower this index.
TimeThe time index of 26.74 suggests moderate traffic delays.
Commuters face an average time expansion index of 31.25, reflecting potential inefficiencies.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index stands at 96.10, highlighting room for improvement in traffic management.
Reducing car usage and enhancing public transport could alleviate inefficiencies.