Traffic Summary for Johannesburg
Johannesburg's traffic landscape in 2024 is dominated by car usage, with over 92% of commuters relying on this mode of transport. Despite the heavy reliance on cars, the city faces significant traffic inefficiencies and high CO2 emissions, highlighting the need for sustainable transport solutions.
Average Commute Times
- Bus - Bus commuters spend around 40 minutes on the bus, with an additional 13.5 minutes waiting.
- Car - Car users experience an average driving time of 40.9 minutes, with minimal waiting time.
- Train - Train commuters have a total travel time of 28 minutes on the train, with 10 minutes waiting and 15 minutes walking.
- Walking - Walking commutes average 10 minutes for a distance of 1 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic congestion tends to increase during the holiday season, particularly in December, as more people travel for leisure. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic as people tend to stay indoors more often.
Commuter Pain Points
Long waiting times for buses and trains contribute to commuter dissatisfaction. High traffic congestion during peak hours leads to increased travel times and stress for car users.
Best Travel Times
Traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM can help avoid the worst of the traffic congestion. Midday travel is generally smoother, with less congestion compared to peak morning and evening hours.
Event Impacts
Major events at venues like FNB Stadium can cause significant traffic disruptions, especially on weekends. Public holidays and festivals often lead to increased traffic as people travel to and from events.
Sustainability Efforts
Johannesburg is exploring the expansion of its bus rapid transit system to provide more efficient public transport options. The city is also promoting cycling and walking through improved infrastructure and awareness campaigns.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, offering a flexible alternative to car ownership. These services are particularly popular among younger commuters and those without access to private vehicles.
Traffic Rankings
Johannesburg ranks 3rd on the Traffic rankings in South Africa. 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.
Traffic Data
Overall average travel
Average when primarily using Bus
Average when primarily using Car
Average when primarily using Train
Average when primarily using Walking
"Key Takeaways"
With over 92% of commuters using cars, there is a critical need to diversify transportation options in Johannesburg.
Investing in public transport infrastructure and promoting alternative modes like cycling could significantly reduce traffic congestion and emissions.
Key Indexes
EmissionsJohannesburg has a high CO2 emission index of 10397.17, primarily due to the heavy reliance on cars.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting public transport and non-motorized transport options.
TimeThe time index of 40.75 indicates significant delays in commuting times, especially for car users.
Improving traffic flow and reducing congestion could help lower this index.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index stands at 246.78, reflecting the challenges faced by commuters in terms of time lost in traffic.
Addressing road infrastructure and enhancing public transport could mitigate these inefficiencies.