Grahamstown, South Africa, presents a unique transportation landscape where walking and car usage dominate the commuting scene. With equal reliance on walking and cars, the city faces distinct challenges and opportunities in managing its traffic and emissions.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Grahamstown is approximately 2.5 minutes, covering a distance of 1.55 km.
  • Car - Car commuters spend about 3 minutes driving, covering a distance of 2.1 km.
  • Walking - Walking commuters spend about 2 minutes on their journey, covering a distance of 1 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Walking
50%
Car
50%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic patterns in Grahamstown remain relatively stable throughout the year, with minor increases during university events. The summer months see a slight uptick in pedestrian traffic due to favorable weather conditions.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transport options can make commuting challenging for those without access to a car. Pedestrian pathways may require improvements to ensure safety and accessibility.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings and late afternoons are ideal for commuting to avoid potential congestion. Midday offers the smoothest travel experience for both walkers and drivers.

Event Impacts

Public events, particularly university-related activities, can lead to temporary spikes in traffic. Planning alternative routes during these events can help mitigate congestion.

Sustainability Efforts

Grahamstown is exploring initiatives to enhance green spaces and promote walking and cycling. Efforts to increase awareness about sustainable commuting are underway to reduce emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are gradually gaining popularity, offering flexible commuting options. These services help reduce the number of cars on the road, contributing to lower emissions.

Worldwide
South Africa

Traffic Rankings

The Traffic Index for South Africa combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in South Africa, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.

Worst to BestUpdated: Dec, 2024

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 2 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
1.0 miles
Walking
1.0 mins
Driving Car
2.5 mins
Total:
3.5 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
1.3 miles
Driving Car
3.0 mins
Total:
3.0 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
0.6 miles
Walking
2.0 mins
Driving Car
2.0 mins
Total:
4.0 mins
Grahamstown Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Promoting cycling and public transport could diversify commuting options and reduce car dependency.

Enhancing pedestrian infrastructure can support the high percentage of walking commuters.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Grahamstown has a CO2 emission index of 665, indicating moderate levels of emissions.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting non-motorized transport.

Time

The time index is 3.5, suggesting relatively low traffic delays.

Commuters experience minimal waiting times, enhancing travel efficiency.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index is 3.63, reflecting some room for improvement in traffic management.

Optimizing traffic flow could further reduce inefficiencies.