Traffic Summary for Cardiff
Cardiff, the capital of Wales, presents a diverse transportation landscape with a significant reliance on cars and a growing interest in walking and cycling. In 2024, Cardiff's transportation system shows a mix of traditional and sustainable commuting methods, reflecting both challenges and opportunities for improvement.
Average Commute Times
- Bus - Bus commuters spend about 10 minutes traveling over a distance of 8.05 km.
- Car - Car users experience a driving time of 24.6 minutes with an additional 1.3 minutes of walking, covering 13.77 km.
- Train - Train commuters spend 50 minutes on the train, with a total travel time of 75 minutes including waiting and walking, covering 63 km.
- Walking - Walking commuters spend approximately 23.83 minutes on foot, covering a distance of 3.27 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Winter months often see increased traffic congestion due to adverse weather conditions, impacting commute times. Summer festivals and events can lead to temporary spikes in traffic, especially in the city center.
Commuter Pain Points
Traffic congestion during peak hours remains a major issue for car commuters. Limited frequency and coverage of public transport services can lead to longer waiting times.
Best Travel Times
Traveling outside of peak hours, such as mid-morning or early afternoon, can reduce commute times significantly. Weekend mornings are generally less congested, offering smoother travel experiences.
Event Impacts
Major events at the Principality Stadium can cause significant traffic disruptions, necessitating alternative routes or public transport use. Local festivals and parades often lead to road closures and increased pedestrian traffic.
Sustainability Efforts
Cardiff is investing in expanding its cycling infrastructure to promote sustainable commuting. The city is also exploring electric bus options to reduce its carbon footprint.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, offering a flexible alternative to traditional commuting. However, the impact on traffic congestion is mixed, as ride-sharing can contribute to increased vehicle miles traveled.
Traffic Rankings
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.
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"
Increasing the share of public transport and cycling could significantly reduce CO2 emissions and improve traffic flow.
Enhancing public transport infrastructure and services can address inefficiencies and reduce reliance on cars.
Key Indexes
EmissionsCardiff's CO2 emissions index stands at 3366.8, indicating a moderate level of emissions from transportation.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing the use of public transport and cycling.
TimeThe average commute time index is 30.6 minutes, reflecting moderate traffic conditions.
Peak hours may significantly increase commute times, suggesting a need for traffic management solutions.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index is at 137.23, highlighting areas for improvement in traffic flow and public transport efficiency.
Investments in infrastructure and smart traffic systems could alleviate inefficiencies.