In 2024, Manchester's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with 40% of commuters opting for this mode. Walking and bus travel are also significant, accounting for 20% and 18% respectively. Despite the variety of transport options, the city faces challenges with CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiency, highlighting areas for potential improvement.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves approximately 15.9 minutes of driving and 8.3 minutes of walking, covering a distance of 14.4 km.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 33 minutes on the bus and 4.7 minutes walking, with a total distance of 9.1 km.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 38.7 minutes, with minimal walking, covering 22.3 km.
  • Train - Train commuters spend 25 minutes on the train and 15 minutes walking, traveling a distance of 24.5 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes take about 29.8 minutes, with a total distance of 4.9 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
40%
Walking
20%
Bus
18%
Bicycle
8%
Tram
6%
Train
4%
Home
4%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic congestion tends to increase during the winter months due to adverse weather conditions. Summer festivals and events can lead to temporary spikes in traffic, particularly in the city center.

Commuter Pain Points

Commuters often face delays due to roadworks and construction projects across the city. Limited parking availability in the city center adds to the frustration of car users.

Best Travel Times

Traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM can help avoid peak traffic congestion. Midday travel is generally smoother, especially for those using public transport.

Event Impacts

Large public events, such as football matches and concerts, significantly impact traffic, requiring alternative routes or modes of transport. Advance planning and public transport options are recommended during these events.

Sustainability Efforts

Manchester is investing in expanding its cycling infrastructure to promote eco-friendly commuting. The city is also enhancing its public transport network to encourage reduced car usage.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, offering a flexible alternative to traditional transport. These services are particularly popular during peak hours and for last-mile connectivity.

Worldwide
United Kingdom

Traffic Rankings

Manchester ranks 2nd 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 51 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
8.9 miles
Walking
8.4 mins
Waiting
1.7 mins
Driving Car
15.9 mins
Bus / Trolley
6.9 mins
Bicycle
2.4 mins
Motorcycle
0.2 mins
Train
1.5 mins
Tram
1.3 mins
Other
0.6 mins
Total:
39.0 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
5.6 miles
Walking
4.7 mins
Waiting
6.7 mins
Bus / Trolley
33.0 mins
Total:
44.3 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
13.9 miles
Walking
0.4 mins
Driving Car
38.6 mins
Total:
39.0 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
15.2 miles
Walking
15.0 mins
Waiting
4.0 mins
Train
25.0 mins
Total:
44.0 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
3.1 miles
Walking
29.8 mins
Driving Car
0.8 mins
Bus / Trolley
4.0 mins
Total:
35.6 mins
Manchester Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Increasing the use of public transport and cycling could help reduce CO2 emissions and traffic congestion.

Enhancing the efficiency of bus and train services may improve overall commute times and reduce reliance on cars.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Manchester's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 4630.12, indicating significant environmental impact.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing public transport and cycling usage.

Time

The time index of 39.03 suggests moderate traffic delays across the city.

Improving traffic flow and reducing congestion could enhance commute efficiency.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index stands at 173.12, reflecting challenges in the current transportation system.

Addressing bottlenecks and optimizing public transport routes could alleviate inefficiencies.