Riga has quite a straight planning of streets. The roads cross in the centre at right angles and there are a lot of parallel streets therefore. The automobile traffic is not very intense but might be busy in the beginning and at the end of the working hours. Usually there might be not very big traffic jams between 17:00 and 18:30 on the working days.
There are some tips for those who feel familiar enough with the city to drive a car without a navigation regarding the green light streets in Riga. In Riga the traffic is planned in a way to ensure seamless driving without stopping when the red lights are on in the direction from the centre to the suburbs, namely Purvciems, Sarkandaugava, Teika. These suburbs are located on the longest roads of Riga and a big part of the traffic after work goes in these directions.
Therefore, the roads where it is possible to catch kind of a “green light wave” are Valdemara street, Marijas (continuing as Čaka) street, and Brīvības street. At any time of the day driving via these routes in the direction from the centre to these districts might be the fastest.
Drive safe!