Traffic in Port Elizabeth

In 2024, Port Elizabeth sees a predominant use of cars for commuting, with 80.65% of residents opting for this mode of transport.Walking is the second most popular mode of transportation, accounting for 9.68% of commutes, reflecting a significant pedestrian presence in the city.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 23.67 minutes of driving and 6.71 minutes of walking, covering a distance of 21.02 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 60 minutes traveling over a distance of 15 km.
  • Car - Car users typically drive for 25.66 minutes, with minimal walking time, covering 21.58 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average 58.33 minutes, including some driving and bus time, over 18.33 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
81%
Walking
10%
Home
6%
Bus
3%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 31 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
13.1 miles
Walking
6.7 mins
Waiting
0.9 mins
Driving Car
23.7 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.4 mins
Other
0.2 mins
Total:
33.9 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
9.3 miles
Bus / Trolley
60.0 mins
Total:
60.0 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
13.4 miles
Walking
0.8 mins
Driving Car
25.7 mins
Total:
26.4 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
11.4 miles
Walking
58.3 mins
Waiting
8.3 mins
Driving Car
15.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
3.3 mins
Other
2.3 mins
Total:
87.3 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists visit the coastal city.

Winter months see a slight reduction in traffic congestion, offering smoother commutes.

Commuter Pain Points

Heavy reliance on cars leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during peak hours.

Limited public transport options can make commuting challenging for non-drivers.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are the best times to avoid traffic.

Midday travel between 11 AM and 2 PM is also relatively smooth.

Event Impacts

Public events, especially sports matches and festivals, can cause significant traffic disruptions.

Planning routes ahead of time during such events can help mitigate delays.

Sustainability Efforts

The city is exploring initiatives to expand bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways.

There is a push towards increasing the efficiency and coverage of the bus network.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are gaining popularity, offering a flexible alternative to car ownership.

These services help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, potentially easing congestion.

Worldwide
South Africa

Traffic Rankings

Port Elizabeth ranks 4th 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.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025