In 2024, Oakland's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with over 64% of commuters relying on personal vehicles. Public transportation, including buses and trains, accounts for nearly 20% of commutes, reflecting a balanced approach to urban mobility.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 22.77 minutes of driving and 3.90 minutes of walking, covering a distance of 18.88 km.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 34 minutes on the bus and 9 minutes walking, with a total distance of 11.27 km.
  • Car - Car commuters drive for approximately 35.15 minutes, covering a distance of 22.93 km.
  • Train - Train users spend 20.33 minutes on the train and 2.67 minutes waiting, traveling a distance of 13.67 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average 16.33 minutes on foot, with additional time spent on other modes like trams and trains.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
65%
Walking
10%
Train
10%
Bus
10%
Home
3%
Bicycle
3%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourism peaks. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic due to adverse weather conditions.

Commuter Pain Points

High car dependency leads to congestion, especially during rush hours. Limited public transport options in certain areas make commuting challenging.

Best Travel Times

Traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM can help avoid peak traffic congestion. Midday travel between 11 AM and 2 PM is generally smoother.

Event Impacts

Large public events, such as sports games and concerts, significantly increase traffic around venues. Planning alternative routes during events can save time and reduce stress.

Sustainability Efforts

Oakland is investing in electric bus fleets to reduce emissions. Bike-sharing programs are being expanded to encourage eco-friendly commuting.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, easing congestion. However, they also contribute to increased traffic in popular areas during peak times.

Worldwide
United States

Traffic Rankings

Oakland ranks 30th on the Traffic rankings in United States. 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: Dec, 2024
Full Traffic Rankings

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 32 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
11.7 miles
Walking
3.9 mins
Waiting
0.9 mins
Driving Car
22.8 mins
Bus / Trolley
3.3 mins
Bicycle
0.6 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Train
2.6 mins
Tram
0.6 mins
Other
1.6 mins
Total:
36.4 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
7.0 miles
Walking
9.0 mins
Waiting
3.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
34.0 mins
Total:
46.3 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
14.2 miles
Walking
1.5 mins
Driving Car
35.1 mins
Total:
36.6 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
8.5 miles
Waiting
2.7 mins
Train
20.3 mins
Other
3.3 mins
Total:
26.3 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
5.7 miles
Walking
16.3 mins
Waiting
1.7 mins
Driving Car
1.0 mins
Train
6.7 mins
Tram
6.7 mins
Total:
32.3 mins
Oakland Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Encouraging alternative transportation methods could alleviate congestion and reduce CO2 emissions.

Investing in public transport infrastructure may improve commute times and overall efficiency.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Oakland's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 6293.42, indicating significant environmental impact.

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

Time

The time index of 36.39 minutes suggests moderate traffic delays during peak hours.

Improving traffic flow could significantly reduce average commute times.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index stands at 220.05, highlighting areas for potential improvement in traffic management.

Strategies to enhance road efficiency could include smart traffic lights and better public transport integration.