Traffic in Newcastle

In 2024, Newcastle's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population also opting for walking and cycling.Despite the heavy reliance on cars, Newcastle is making strides towards more sustainable commuting options, as evidenced by the notable percentage of bicycle use.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves approximately 24.32 minutes of driving and 3.79 minutes of walking, covering a distance of 21.06 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 15 minutes on the bus and 8 minutes walking, with a total distance of 4.5 km.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 38.08 minutes, covering a distance of 30.63 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average 16 minutes on foot, with a total journey time of 20 minutes including waiting and driving, over 3.13 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
63%
Walking
21%
Bicycle
11%
Bus
5%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 19 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
13.1 miles
Walking
3.8 mins
Waiting
0.4 mins
Driving Car
24.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
1.3 mins
Bicycle
2.8 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Total:
32.6 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
2.8 miles
Walking
8.0 mins
Waiting
2.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
15.0 mins
Total:
25.0 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
19.0 miles
Driving Car
38.1 mins
Total:
38.1 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
1.9 miles
Walking
16.0 mins
Waiting
1.3 mins
Driving Car
1.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.5 mins
Total:
21.0 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists visit Newcastle's beaches and attractions.

Winter sees a slight reduction in bicycle use due to colder weather, impacting overall traffic patterns.

Commuter Pain Points

Heavy reliance on cars leads to congestion during peak hours, particularly on major roads leading into the city.

Limited public transport options can make commuting challenging for those without access to a car.

Best Travel Times

Commuters can avoid peak congestion by traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM.

Midday travel, between 10 AM and 2 PM, generally experiences lighter traffic.

Event Impacts

Public events such as festivals and sports matches can significantly increase traffic congestion, particularly in the city center.

Planning alternative routes during these events can help mitigate delays.

Sustainability Efforts

Newcastle is investing in expanding its cycling infrastructure to encourage more sustainable commuting.

The city is also exploring the introduction of electric buses to reduce public transport emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles, easing congestion slightly.

However, the increase in ride-sharing vehicles can contribute to traffic in busy areas, necessitating strategic management.

Worldwide
Australia

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.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025