Traffic Summary for Winston-Salem
In 2024, Winston-Salem's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population also working from home. Despite the high reliance on cars, the city maintains a relatively low average commute time, reflecting efficient traffic flow.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters spend about 27.1 minutes on the road, covering an average distance of 24.3 km.
- Walking - Walking commuters have a short commute time of 1 minute, typically covering a distance of 1 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the fall months as schools are in session and holiday shopping begins. Summer months see a slight decrease in traffic as residents take vacations.
Commuter Pain Points
Limited public transportation options make car travel a necessity for many. Traffic congestion during peak hours can lead to delays and increased commute times.
Best Travel Times
Traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM can help avoid peak traffic congestion. Midday travel between 10 AM and 3 PM is generally smoother with less traffic.
Event Impacts
Large public events, such as the Winston-Salem Air Show, can significantly impact traffic, leading to road closures and detours. Sporting events at local colleges also contribute to temporary traffic spikes.
Sustainability Efforts
The city is investing in expanding bike lanes and pedestrian paths to encourage non-motorized commuting. Efforts are underway to improve the efficiency of public transportation to reduce car dependency.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, particularly during peak hours. These services offer a flexible alternative to car ownership, contributing to decreased traffic congestion.
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.
Traffic Data
Overall average travel
Average when primarily using Car
Average when primarily using Walking
"Key Takeaways"
Car usage is the predominant mode of transportation in Winston-Salem, contributing to high CO2 emissions.
Promoting alternative modes of transport, such as cycling or public transit, could improve traffic efficiency and reduce emissions.
Key Indexes
EmissionsThe CO2 emissions index is relatively high at 6097.54, indicating a significant environmental impact from transportation.
Efforts to reduce car dependency could help lower emissions.
TimeThe time index of 24.6 suggests that commute times are manageable, but there is room for improvement.
Encouraging alternative transportation methods could further reduce commute times.
InefficiencyWith an inefficiency index of 123.62, there are inefficiencies in the current transportation system.
Optimizing traffic flow and promoting public transport could address these inefficiencies.