Public transport data reveals commuter patterns and challenges residents face in Australia's biggest cities

Brisbane commuters suffer the longest waits for public transport out of all of Australia's biggest cities, new research has found.

On average, Brisbane riders wait 12 minutes for their bus, train, tram or ferry to arrive.

Melburnians are typically left waiting 11 minutes, with Sydney and Adelaide residents enjoying the shortest wait times, just 10 minutes.

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One in three Sydney residents who use public transport wait five minutes or less to board their ride.

Data provided to nine.com.au by global mobility app Moovit has revealed the unique challenges faced by commuters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Melbourne commuters endured the longest travel times of the sampled cities, on average riding public transport for 47 minutes.

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Sydney was just behind on 46 minutes, with Brisbane on 44 and Adelaide commuters reaching their destination in 39 minutes.

Moovit found 38 per cent of Sydneysiders had public transport commutes totalling 30 minutes or less.

Melbourne and Brisbane locals tied for the longest public transport journeys, averaging 11 kilometres, followed by Sydney with nine kilometres.

Another data set analysed by Moovit showed how well each of the cities was served by various public transport stops, links and stations.

Sydney locals walked 573 metres throughout their public transport journey, with Melburnians walking on average 700 metres during their commute.

One in five Melburnians had to trudge more than one-kilometre during their public transport commute.

Brisbane residents walked 700 metres, with Adelaidians walking 600 metres.

And although Sydneysiders on average walked less than other city residents on their commutes, they were generally forced to make more transfers.

Almost two in 10 Sydney commuters have to change lines or modes or transport at least three times on their journey.

And while Brisbane commuters face longer waits than most, 55 per cent of riders only have to use one line to get where they are going.

The Moovit study also showed how the coronavirus was continuing to impact the appetite to ride public transport, one year on from the start of the pandemic.

More than half (52 per cent) of Melbourne commuters are using public transport less or not at all since the start of the pandemic.

The virus had a similar effect in Sydney, where 43 per cent of riders were using public transport less or not at all.

Moovit did not have data for Perth, Canberra, Hobart or Darwin.

Words: Mark Saunokonoko

Interactive graphics: Tara Blancato