Hourly traffic live index for selected cities, including Riyadh, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, and Cairo from December 16, 2022 till January 4, 2023. Data is collected from tomtom - traffic reports.

Non-commercial use only.

MEASURING CONGESTION WORLDWIDE

According to a recent report released by TomTom, drivers during the rush hour commute can expect congestion levels to significantly increase their commute time. On average, drivers will spend double the time in the car for most large metropolitan areas across the world during the evening commute alone. The average commuter spent an extra 100 hours a year traveling during the evening rush hour.In Los Angeles (Ranked 1st in the United States (U.S.) and 10th Worldwide), a 30 minute commute in the evening will take 54 minutes due to congestion, an extra 92 hours annually. Commuters in the San Francisco Bay Region are only slightly better off than their counter parts in Los Angeles. The measured congestion in San Francisco (Ranked 2nd in the U.S. and 26th Worldwide) is at 34%, while San Jose (Ranked 6th in the U.S. and 51st Worldwide) is at 30%.TomTom roadway congestion is measured as an increase in overall travel times when compared to the posted speed limits on roadways. For example, a Congestion Level of 12% corresponds to 12% longer travel times. The latest results and press release can be viewed here: https://www.tomtom.com/traffic-index/

Pedal-Assist Pedelecs Market size was valued at USD 25,212.18 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 57,571.21 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.91% from 2024 to 2031.

Global Pedal-Assist Pedelecs Market Outlook

The rising urban traffic congestion around the globe is a significant driving force behind the expansion of the Global Pedal-Assist Pedelecs Market. The latest TomTom Traffic Index, an annual report providing data on traffic trends across 387 cities in 55 countries, highlights a troubling trend: a decline in average speeds in the majority of analyzed cities. Of these, 228 cities experienced a decrease in average speeds, leading to longer journey times and increased fuel consumption. This escalating congestion problem has set the stage for the rise of alternative transportation solutions, notably pedal-assist pedelecs. The 2023 TomTom Traffic Index reveals that in many cities, travel times for a standard 6-mile journey have increased significantly. For instance, London, with the lowest average speed, saw travel times for a 6-mile journey increase by nearly a minute compared to 2022. This congestion is not only a time sink for commuters but also exacerbates fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Over 60% of 351 cities reported a 15% or more increase in fuel costs between 2021 and 2023, directly impacting motorists' budgets and contributing to higher carbon emissions. As urban areas struggle with these challenges, pedal-assist pedelecs (electric bicycles) are emerging as a viable alternative. These bicycles provide motorized assistance when pedaling, making it easier to cover longer distances and navigate hilly terrains without excessive effort. Pedelecs can help reduce the number of cars on the road, alleviating traffic congestion. By opting for pedelecs, commuters can significantly reduce their carbon footprint compared to using cars. Pedelecs are more affordable in terms of fuel and maintenance compared to cars.

Furthermore, rising expansion of cycling infrastructure and dedicated lanes presents a significant market opportunity for the growth of pedal-assisted pedelecs worldwide. As cities and governments increasingly recognize the benefits of promoting sustainable and eco-friendly transportation options, they are actively investing in cycling-friendly initiatives. This proactive approach is creating a conducive environment for the adoption of electric bicycles, particularly pedal-assisted pedelecs. This trend is evident across various regions, driven by factors such as increasing urbanization, traffic congestion, and environmental concerns. According to a European Cyclists' Federation report, the total length of cycling lanes and paths in major European cities has increased by over 35% in the last decade. Cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Paris are leading the way.

This dataset includes many indexes of global cities. The variables of congestion level, skyscraper index, whether a city was bombed in WWII (World War II), and global cities’ population are key variables. (1) The congestion level data were collected from TOMTOM company. The congestion level data includes five indexes in 2004 which are “Congestion level”, “Morning peak Congestion level”, “Evening peak Congestion level”, “Highways Congestion level”, “Non-highways Congestion level”, and two indexes in 2020 which are “Time lost per year” and “Congestion level”. (2) The data of skyscraper index is calculated using the data of building height from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, from which we can obtain accurate data on the number of buildings taller than 150 m. With these data, we constructed an index of skyscrapers taller than 150 m in a city. A building receives a score of 1.5 if it is taller than 150 m and shorter than 200 m, 2.0 if it is between 200 m and 300 m, and so on. Then, we summed the scores for skyscrapers in the city as the “skyscraper index” of the city. (3) The data of whether a city was bombed in WWII is dummy variable, if the urban area of a city was bombed in WWII, it is 1, and 0 otherwise. The authors consulted various historical files and determined the value. (4) The data of global cities’ population, as well as the area and density of the city, are on the city-level, and were collected from the website of the cities or countries’ statistics department. These indicators are good measures of the level of congestion, urban spatial structure, instrumental variable (IV) for urban spatial structure, and urban population in global cities, and can be reused in other analysis.