Traffic in Reading

Reading, United Kingdom, showcases a diverse range of transportation modes with cars being the most popular choice.

The city's traffic data for 2024 highlights significant usage of buses and walking, contributing to varied commute experiences.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 2.65 minutes waiting, 12.53 minutes driving, and covers a distance of 13.19 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 7 minutes waiting and 23.8 minutes on the bus, covering 7.06 km.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 30.43 minutes over a distance of 16.24 km.
  • Train - Train journeys average 40 minutes with an additional 12 minutes biking, covering 48.28 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes take approximately 28.67 minutes, with a total distance of 8 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
39%
Bus
28%
Walking
17%
Train
6%
Home
6%
Bicycle
6%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 18 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
8.2 miles
Walking
7.4 mins
Waiting
2.6 mins
Driving Car
12.5 mins
Bus / Trolley
7.0 mins
Bicycle
1.6 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Train
3.2 mins
Other
0.9 mins
Total:
35.3 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
4.4 miles
Walking
8.0 mins
Waiting
7.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
23.8 mins
Other
3.0 mins
Total:
41.8 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
10.1 miles
Driving Car
30.4 mins
Total:
30.4 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
30.0 miles
Bicycle
12.0 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Train
40.0 mins
Total:
52.0 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
5.0 miles
Walking
28.7 mins
Waiting
3.3 mins
Train
5.0 mins
Total:
37.0 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months due to tourism and local events.

Winter sees a shift towards more car usage due to adverse weather conditions affecting walking and cycling.

Commuter Pain Points

Congestion during peak hours remains a significant challenge for car commuters.

Limited train frequency can lead to longer wait times and overcrowding during rush hours.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are ideal for avoiding heavy traffic.

Midday travel between 11 AM and 2 PM typically experiences lighter traffic conditions.

Event Impacts

Public events, especially at the Reading Festival, significantly increase traffic congestion.

Sporting events and concerts at local venues can also lead to temporary traffic spikes.

Sustainability Efforts

Reading is investing in expanding its cycling infrastructure to promote eco-friendly commuting.

The city is also enhancing its bus fleet with electric and hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have contributed to reduced car ownership and traffic congestion.

These services offer flexible commuting options, particularly beneficial during peak hours.

Worldwide
United Kingdom

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.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025
Full Traffic Rankings