The 10 Cities From Around the World With the Best Commutes

Soaring costs, delays, bumpy rides and overcrowding are just some of the hardships endured by commuters daily. A recent study was conducted to determine the quality of the transport system in 74 cities across the world and the challenges faced by commuters in these cities. The study accounted for the average time spent commuting daily, including the time spent waiting for a train or bus, the time it takes to complete a one-way journey, and the percentage of travelers who have to board at least another mode of transport to complete a single journey. The survey also accounted for the average transport cost as a percentage of the monthly salary and the average number of hours spent in the traffic jam over 240 days. A score is assigned to each of these factors and weighted. The city with the lowest score is considered the best in public transport system while the city with the highest score has the worst transport system.

Cities with the Easiest Commutes

Nice, France

The French city of Nice has the best transport system with an average score of 11.05. The residents of Nice enjoy value for their money. On average, a commuter spends 1.25% of the net income on transport which is four times less than London. The journey to and from work takes about 40 minutes while they spend an average of 22 hours in traffic in a period of one year. The city has an efficient transport system that consists of high-speed trains and a bus system. Transport infrastructure is designed to reduce congestion by avoiding situations that may lead to traffic jams.

Cuenca, Ecuador

The city of Cuenca, Ecuador ranks second with a score of 14.78. The city stands out for being the only South American city in the top ten. The transport system in the city is characterized by short journeys, shorter waiting times and cheap travel. On average, a commuter travels 2.4 miles to get to work. The city's population of about 740, 000 also plays a crucial role in the efficient transport system. Although the city has no train service, passengers spend an average of 11 minutes at the bus station and an average of 51 minutes to and from work.

Bilbao, Spain

The city of Bilbao, Spain ranks third with a score of 15.08. There are six modes of public transport in Bilbao which include a light and metro train, bus system, ferry, funicular, and cable car. The city has a population of slightly more than 350,000, a feature that has contributed significantly to the efficient transport system. It takes an average of seven minutes to board a public service transport and 35 minutes to travel to and from work.

Cities With The Worst Commutes.

Rio de Janeiro (86.26), Bogotá (84.12), and São Paulo (83.71) have the worst public transport systems of the 74 cities. A large population, poor infrastructure, and congestion are to blame for the inefficient system. In Rio de Janeiro for example; it takes an average of 19 minutes to board public transport and 95 minutes to journey to and from work.