Traffic Summary for Mackay
In 2024, Mackay's transportation landscape is dominated by cars and motorcycles, with significant portions of the population also working from home. The city faces challenges with CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiency, but there are opportunities for improvement in public transport and sustainability efforts.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters spend an average of 12.5 minutes driving over a distance of 6.7 km.
- Walking - Walking commuters take about 20 minutes to cover a distance of 1.5 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists visit Mackay's beaches and attractions. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic, offering smoother commutes.
Commuter Pain Points
Limited public transport options make it challenging for non-drivers to commute efficiently. High reliance on cars contributes to traffic congestion and increased emissions.
Best Travel Times
Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are the best times to avoid traffic congestion. Midday travel is generally smoother due to lower traffic volumes.
Event Impacts
Public events, such as festivals and sports matches, can significantly impact traffic, leading to delays. Planning travel around these events can help avoid congestion.
Sustainability Efforts
Mackay is exploring initiatives to promote electric vehicles and expand cycling infrastructure. Community programs are being developed to encourage carpooling and reduce single-occupancy vehicle use.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services are gaining popularity, offering flexible commuting options and reducing the need for personal vehicles. These services help decrease parking demand and can contribute to lower traffic congestion.
Traffic Rankings
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 Car
Average when primarily using Walking
"Key Takeaways"
Encouraging the use of public transport and cycling could significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Investing in smarter traffic management systems may alleviate current inefficiencies.
Key Indexes
EmissionsMackay's CO2 emissions index is relatively high at 3462.5, indicating a need for greener transportation options.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing public transport usage and encouraging cycling.
TimeThe average time index for commuters is 22.5, reflecting moderate traffic conditions.
Improving traffic flow and reducing delays could enhance the commuting experience.
InefficiencyThe traffic inefficiency index stands at 133.16, suggesting room for improvement in traffic management.
Implementing smarter traffic systems could help reduce inefficiencies.