Traffic Summary for Charleston
Charleston, SC, predominantly relies on cars for commuting, with a significant 90% of residents using this mode of transport. Despite the heavy reliance on cars, Charleston faces challenges with CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiencies, highlighting areas for potential improvement.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters spend about 30.67 minutes driving, covering an average distance of 22.25 miles.
- Walking - Walking commutes average 10 minutes, typically covering a distance of 5 miles.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months due to tourism, leading to longer commute times. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic as tourism wanes.
Commuter Pain Points
High car dependency leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during peak hours. Limited public transportation options restrict commuting flexibility.
Best Travel Times
Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are the best times to avoid heavy traffic. Midday travel is also less congested compared to peak hours.
Event Impacts
Major events like the Spoleto Festival USA significantly increase traffic congestion. Local sports events and parades can also lead to temporary road closures and detours.
Sustainability Efforts
Charleston is exploring initiatives to expand bike lanes and pedestrian pathways to reduce car dependency. Efforts to improve public transportation infrastructure are underway to offer more sustainable commuting options.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, slightly easing congestion. These services provide an alternative to car ownership, particularly for younger residents.
Traffic Rankings
Charleston ranks 38th 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.
Traffic Data
Overall average travel
Average when primarily using Car
Average when primarily using Walking
"Key Takeaways"
Charleston's heavy reliance on cars is a major contributor to high CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiencies.
Improving public transportation options could alleviate traffic congestion and reduce environmental impact.
Key Indexes
EmissionsCharleston's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 7843.03, indicating significant environmental impact.
Efforts to reduce car dependency could help lower emissions.
TimeThe time index of 30.69 suggests moderate commute durations, primarily due to car usage.
Traffic delays contribute to an inefficiency index of 134.60.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index of 134.60 highlights room for improvement in traffic management.
Reducing car usage and enhancing public transport could mitigate inefficiencies.