Salamanca reports 33% reduction in city traffic intensity since 2017

Traffic intensity in Salamanca has decreased by 33% over the last decade, according to municipal data. Comparing the period of January to August 2026 with the same period in 2017, the average number of vehicles per measurement point dropped from nearly 8,000 to approximately 5,300 per day.

The decline is not attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the downward trend began prior to 2019. Since 2019, the reduction stands at 27%. Potential factors contributing to this shift include rising fuel costs, new regulated parking zones (ORA), the availability of peripheral parking lots, and increased usage of urban buses and the Buscyl service.

Even the city's busiest point, Paseo de Carmelitas (specifically between Crespo Rascón and Puerta Zamora), has seen a significant drop, falling from approximately 19,700 vehicles per day in 2017 to around 12,000 in 2026.