In 2024, Christchurch's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population also opting for bicycles. Despite a high reliance on cars, the city is making strides towards more sustainable commuting options.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time across all modes is approximately 23.6 minutes, with cars being the most common mode.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 23.3 minutes on the bus, with additional walking time.
  • Car - Car drivers experience an average driving time of 20.1 minutes.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average around 31.7 minutes, covering a distance of 3 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
69%
Bicycle
13%
Walking
8%
Bus
8%
Motorcycle
3%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists visit the city. Winter sees a slight decrease in bicycle usage due to colder weather, impacting overall traffic patterns.

Commuter Pain Points

Heavy reliance on cars leads to congestion during peak hours. Limited public transport options can result in longer commute times for non-drivers.

Best Travel Times

Traveling before 8 AM or after 6 PM can help avoid peak traffic congestion. Midday travel is generally smoother, with less traffic on the roads.

Event Impacts

Public events, such as festivals and sports games, can cause significant traffic disruptions, especially in the city center. Planning alternative routes during major events can help mitigate delays.

Sustainability Efforts

Christchurch is investing in cycling infrastructure to promote eco-friendly commuting. The city is exploring electric bus options to reduce public transport emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are helping to reduce the number of cars on the road, particularly during peak hours. These services provide a flexible alternative to traditional public transport, especially in areas with limited bus routes.

Worldwide
New Zealand

Traffic Rankings

Christchurch ranks 3rd on the Traffic rankings in New Zealand. The Traffic Index for New Zealand combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in New Zealand, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.

Worst to BestUpdated: Dec, 2024

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 39 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
7.6 miles
Walking
3.4 mins
Waiting
0.1 mins
Driving Car
13.9 mins
Bus / Trolley
1.8 mins
Bicycle
3.7 mins
Motorcycle
0.5 mins
Other
0.1 mins
Total:
23.6 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
4.4 miles
Walking
7.0 mins
Waiting
1.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
23.3 mins
Total:
31.7 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
9.0 miles
Walking
0.6 mins
Driving Car
20.1 mins
Total:
20.8 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
1.9 miles
Walking
31.7 mins
Bicycle
2.3 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Total:
34.0 mins
Christchurch Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Increasing the use of bicycles and public transport could significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

Enhancing public transport infrastructure and services can help decrease commute times and traffic inefficiency.

Key Indexes

Emissions

The CO2 emissions index is at 3859.95, indicating a need for more eco-friendly transportation options.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing public transport and cycling infrastructure.

Time

The average time index is 23.6, reflecting moderate traffic conditions.

Improving public transport efficiency could help reduce overall commute times.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index stands at 83.39, suggesting room for improvement in traffic management.

Strategies to alleviate congestion could include better traffic signal coordination and promoting off-peak travel.