Belfast's transportation landscape in 2024 is dominated by car usage, with nearly half of the population relying on this mode for their daily commute. Walking and bus services also play significant roles, reflecting a diverse range of commuting preferences among residents.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Belfast is approximately 37.59 minutes, with a significant portion of this time spent driving.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 37 minutes traveling, with additional time spent walking to and from stops.
  • Car - Car users experience an average driving time of 34.13 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 20.49 km.
  • Train - Train commuters have a travel time of 37.5 minutes, with a substantial portion of time spent on other related activities.
  • Walking - Walking is a popular choice, with an average commute time of 21.5 minutes over a distance of 4.2 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
47%
Walking
18%
Bus
15%
Bicycle
9%
Train
6%
Home
6%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic congestion tends to increase during the winter months due to adverse weather conditions. Summer sees a slight reduction in traffic as residents take vacations, leading to less congestion.

Commuter Pain Points

Peak hour traffic congestion is a major issue for car commuters, leading to longer travel times. Limited availability of frequent bus services can cause delays for public transport users.

Best Travel Times

Traveling outside of peak hours, particularly before 8 AM and after 6 PM, can help avoid the worst traffic. Midday travel is generally smoother for those using public transport.

Event Impacts

Public events, especially in the city center, can lead to significant traffic disruptions. Planning alternative routes during major events can help mitigate delays.

Sustainability Efforts

Belfast is investing in expanding its cycling infrastructure to promote sustainable commuting. The city is also enhancing its public transport network to reduce reliance on cars.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are increasingly popular, helping to reduce the number of cars on the road. These services offer flexible commuting options, particularly for those without access to personal vehicles.

Worldwide
United Kingdom

Traffic Rankings

Belfast ranks 4th on the Traffic rankings in United Kingdom. The Traffic Index for United Kingdom combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in United Kingdom, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.

Worst to BestUpdated: Dec, 2024
Full Traffic Rankings

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 34 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
10.7 miles
Walking
7.3 mins
Waiting
1.4 mins
Driving Car
17.1 mins
Bus / Trolley
5.8 mins
Bicycle
1.7 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Train
2.7 mins
Other
1.6 mins
Total:
37.6 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
10.2 miles
Walking
13.6 mins
Waiting
9.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
37.0 mins
Total:
59.6 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
12.7 miles
Walking
1.1 mins
Driving Car
34.1 mins
Total:
35.2 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
30.3 miles
Walking
10.0 mins
Train
37.5 mins
Other
25.0 mins
Total:
72.5 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
2.6 miles
Walking
21.5 mins
Waiting
0.2 mins
Train
2.0 mins
Total:
23.7 mins
Belfast Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

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

Improving the efficiency of bus and train services may help decrease commute times and traffic inefficiencies.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Belfast's CO2 emissions index stands at 4855.5, indicating a moderate level of emissions from transportation.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing the use of public transport and cycling.

Time

The average time index is 37.59, reflecting the typical commute duration in the city.

Traffic delays are a concern, particularly for car users during peak hours.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index is 167.20, suggesting room for improvement in traffic flow and public transport efficiency.

Enhancing bus and train services could alleviate some of these inefficiencies.