We all have suffered it, nobody can escape from it. The worst enemy when we are in a hurry and its always present after leaving work, and you might be asking yourself… How much time is lost in traffic and is the bike lane faster?
In today’s ride, we’ll explore about the valuable minutes and other resources we lose when stuck in traffic jam. And we will recognize other sustainable alternatives to avoid losing part of our lives in this horrible road situation. Will you join us?
How much time is lost in traffic? WARNING: You will be sad
First of all, we must mention that the information showed here focuses on zones with most traffic congestion. In this case the great metropolis, such as Mexico City (CDMX).
For this city in particular, the Tom Tom Traffic index analyzed this situation in 387 great cities to world level. The intention was knowing of how much time can be lose in traffic in each one.
In the case of CDMX, in 2023, data showed that inhabitants lose 152 hours per year, stuck on vehicle congestion. To avoid the use of calculator, we refer to 6 days and 8 hours per year, stuck in a car. Almost a complete week of our life annually.
This result positions Mexican metropolis in the 13th place of these 387 cities in all the world. However, if we only focus on American continent, CDMX is takes the second place, only behind Toronto, Canada.
This may not sound so drastic, but it is if considering that the same study was done in 2022, indicated that CDMX inhabitants passed 132 hours stuck on their cars. Meaning, the time in a traffic jam has growth immensely: 20 hours in a year.
Tom Tom Traffic indicates that in the 152 hours counted in 2023, a person could read 52 books in total. Or do any other activity, a course, do sports, take a nap or spend more time with your family and pets.
How much affects to my wallet the time spent on traffic?
We will talk about public transport, but for now we will focus on people with their own car to transport.
Do you remember when was the last time you fill a liter of fuel with less than 20 pesos? But surely you note how year after year its cost has increasing, right?
The same study revealed that the loss of fuel due the 152 hours stuck on traffic are equivalent to fill the fuel tank 8 times. In 2023, the national average value of regular fuel was $21.80 per liter. Meaning a cost per fuel tank of 40 lts of $872.36. Premium fuel was in $24.07, means, a cost per a fuel tank of 40 lts would be $962.96.
Now, focused on public transport, who use these means seem are more affected. According to the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, Mexican homes spend around $1,815 pesos per month in public transport. This among different means as metro, metrobus, taxis, buses and others.
We must consider that can be a greater expense. If considering that in most of cases, to get from home to work is used more than 1 transport. On the other hand, for those who live in State of Mexico and work in city or vice versa, must pay a higher rate in some buses.
Now, depending on the situation can be saved a great part of this money and time quantity through alternative and sustainable means of transport.
Bike ways, an option for traffic and expenses
Bicycle has transformed probably in the alternative and sustainable mean of transport among citizens. Their use could avoid time wasted in traffic and great saving in expenses of transport tickets & other benefits of cycling to work.
Rodrigo Díaz, Under-Secretary of the Planning of Ministry of Mobility, indicates that in journeys from 3 to 6 miles, bike becomes the faster transport. When there’s traffic advancing at a low speed, these journeys can be shorter by cycling, from 30 minutes to 1 hour and a half or less.
For example, 1.2 to 1.8 miles by car or public transport, you cover them in 30 minutes. By cycling you cover them in 10 minutes.
For that, an average person can pedal to a 9.3 mph speed. A bit faster than a trolley bus of line 7, that must circulate to a speed of 7.5 mph; a metrobus of line 4 to 13 mph and a RTP to 5.5 mph.
Of course, you’ve more advantages by knowing these motorized transports must stop every 2 or 3 minutes for passenger boarding and alighting. In contrast, for bike this isn’t a problem, even if you don’t believe it, but you can pass the stops officially.
Of course, everything is better if circulate within a bike lane. In other words, confined lanes (separated from vehicle transit) and its use must be by bikes only. By not passing among cars, besides to pedaling safer, you reach so much faster to your destination.
When riding by bike and within bike lanes, can also save the money of your day, or at least a few ones. Another advantage of bike lanes… these must have interconnection among them and with other means of transport. So, if you must take the metro, metrobus or other you can save money.
For example, if to get to metro you had to take a bus, you can pedal to the metro and don’t use the money for that bus. Sure, you will need a good chain or padlock to anchor your bike while you return for it.
Now that you know how much time you lose in traffic, is your moment to use bike and bike lanes. Your wallet and schedule will thank you.
