In 2024, San Luis Obispo sees a predominant reliance on cars, with 90% of commuters choosing this mode of transport. Walking is the second most popular method, though it accounts for only 10% of the commuting population.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in San Luis Obispo is approximately 30.5 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.
  • Car - Car commuters spend about 30.4 minutes driving, covering an average distance of 30.67 km.
  • Walking - Those who walk spend around 30 minutes on their commute, covering a distance of 2.41 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
90%
Walking
10%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months due to tourism. Winter sees a slight decrease in traffic as fewer tourists visit the area.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transportation options make car travel almost a necessity. Traffic congestion during peak hours can lead to increased commute times.

Best Travel Times

Traveling before 8 AM or after 6 PM can help avoid peak traffic congestion. Midday travel is generally smoother with less congestion.

Event Impacts

Public events, such as the annual film festival, can significantly impact traffic flow. Planning alternative routes during events can help mitigate delays.

Sustainability Efforts

The city is exploring the expansion of bike lanes to encourage cycling. Efforts are underway to improve the efficiency of public transport systems.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road. These services provide a flexible alternative to car ownership, especially for short trips.

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: Dec, 2024
Full Traffic Rankings

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 10 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
17.3 miles
Walking
3.1 mins
Driving Car
27.4 mins
Total:
30.5 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
19.1 miles
Walking
0.1 mins
Driving Car
30.4 mins
Total:
30.6 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
1.5 miles
Walking
30.0 mins
Total:
30.0 mins
San Luis Obispo Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Encouraging the use of bicycles and public transport could significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

Investing in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure may increase walking as a viable commuting option.

Key Indexes

Emissions

San Luis Obispo has a high CO2 emission index of 7288.4, largely due to the heavy reliance on cars.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transportation methods.

Time

The time index of 30.5 indicates moderate traffic delays.

Improving public transport options could help reduce commute times.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index stands at 384.21, suggesting room for improvement in traffic management.

Implementing smart traffic systems could enhance flow and reduce inefficiencies.