In 2024, Hamilton's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population also opting to walk or cycle. Efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and improve traffic efficiency are ongoing, as the city navigates the challenges of modern urban commuting.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 1.15 minutes waiting, 10 minutes driving, and 11.15 minutes walking over a distance of 8.25 km.
  • Car - Car commuters spend about 16.25 minutes driving and cover a distance of 8.78 km.
  • Walking - Walking commuters spend 35 minutes walking and 7.5 minutes on the bus, covering a distance of 4.25 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
62%
Walking
31%
Bicycle
8%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists visit the city. Winter months see a slight decrease in cycling due to weather conditions.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transport options can lead to longer commute times for non-drivers. Traffic congestion during peak hours remains a significant issue for car commuters.

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 for cyclists and pedestrians.

Event Impacts

Public events at Claudelands Arena can cause significant traffic disruptions in the surrounding areas. Sporting events at FMG Stadium Waikato often lead to increased traffic and parking challenges.

Sustainability Efforts

Hamilton is investing in cycling infrastructure to encourage more residents to bike to work. The city is exploring electric bus options to reduce public transport emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, easing congestion slightly. However, increased ride-sharing can lead to higher demand for curb space and potential traffic delays.

Worldwide
New Zealand

Traffic Rankings

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: Feb, 2025

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 13 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
5.1 miles
Walking
11.2 mins
Waiting
1.2 mins
Driving Car
10.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.3 mins
Bicycle
1.5 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Total:
26.2 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
5.5 miles
Walking
0.4 mins
Driving Car
16.3 mins
Total:
16.6 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
2.6 miles
Walking
35.0 mins
Waiting
3.8 mins
Bus / Trolley
7.5 mins
Total:
46.3 mins
Hamilton Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Promoting alternative transportation methods like cycling and walking can help reduce CO2 emissions.

Enhancing public transport options could improve overall traffic efficiency and reduce commute times.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Hamilton's CO2 emissions index is 2752.31, indicating a need for sustainable transport solutions.

Efforts to promote cycling and walking could help reduce emissions.

Time

The average time index is 26.15, reflecting moderate traffic delays.

Car travel times are generally efficient, but walking and public transport can be time-consuming.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index stands at 179.59, suggesting room for improvement in traffic flow.

Investments in public transport infrastructure could alleviate inefficiencies.