Traffic in Birmingham

In 2024, Birmingham, AL, sees a dominant reliance on cars for commuting, with 84.62% of residents choosing this mode of transport.

Walking is the second most popular mode, accounting for 15.38% of commutes, highlighting a potential for more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Birmingham is approximately 25.16 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.

  • Car - Car commuters spend about 22.91 minutes driving, covering an average distance of 19.83 km.
  • Walking - Walking commuters spend about 35 minutes on foot, covering a distance of 4.43 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
85%
Walking
15%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 13 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
10.9 miles
Walking
5.4 mins
Driving Car
19.8 mins
Total:
25.2 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
12.3 miles
Driving Car
22.9 mins
Total:
22.9 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
2.7 miles
Walking
35.0 mins
Driving Car
2.5 mins
Total:
37.5 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourism peaks.

Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic, possibly due to adverse weather conditions.

Commuter Pain Points

Heavy reliance on cars leads to congestion during peak hours.

Limited public transportation options restrict commuting flexibility.

Best Travel Times

Traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM can help avoid peak traffic congestion.

Midday travel is generally smoother with less traffic.

Event Impacts

Public events at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex can cause significant traffic delays.

Sporting events at Protective Stadium also contribute to increased traffic congestion.

Sustainability Efforts

Birmingham is exploring the expansion of bike lanes to promote cycling.

The city is investing in electric vehicle charging stations to support sustainable transport.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have reduced the need for personal car ownership among younger residents.

These services help alleviate parking congestion in downtown areas.

Worldwide
United States

Traffic Rankings

The Traffic Index for the United States combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in United States, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025
Full Traffic Rankings