ASSESSING VULNERABILITY OF LOW INCOME COMMUTERS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR TRANSPORT MOBILITY- CONSIDERING DHAKA AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Low income commuters in Dhaka are facing a big challenge to find a better and efficient transport system. Even though many research have been conducted in Dhaka on transport vulnerability with respect to traffic accident, transport vulnerability considering social circumstance of low income earners has seldom got importance.

Combination of qualitative and Quantitative analysis was the methodological approach adopted for this research Quantitative analysis comprised exploratory analysis of the survey data and Calibration of Multinomial Logit model (MNL). Qualitative analysis comprised review of National Transport Plan (NTP), National Integrated Transport Plan (NITP), and revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP) based on the evaluation criteria achieved from analysing survey data and MNL model result.

A travel survey has been conducted on low income commuters in Dhaka from different locations.  Participants of the travel survey were selected randomly. Exploratory analysis of the survey data showed among the low income commuter different social demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, educational qualification and occupation, has insignificant influence on their mode choice decision. Distance, moving time, waiting time and travel cost are the main variables that lead them toward their modal preference. MNL results also provide similar scenario. However, result shows magnitude of coefficient of moving time is more compared to magnitude of coefficient of travel cost. Therefore, low income commuters are more sensitive to moving time than travel cost. Another important finding from the analysis is low income commuters who are in the lower end of the income live near to their work place sacrificing their living condition by living in slums. These commuters mainly walk to their work place. Those who are in higher end of income usually have financial independence to spend more on their transport. .

Evaluating transport plan, policy and study showed except NITP NTP and RSTP did not address low income commuters’ transport issue directly. Other issues such as, travel cost, travel cost, and alternative transport option have been addressed in these plan, policy and study.  Even though these issues have been addressed, in reality none of them achieved directly.

This research not only assesses the transport vulnerability of low income commuters in Dhaka, but also provides a conceptual framework to policymakers and researchers. This framework can be adopted for other cities in Bangladesh. Other similar developing countries also can use this framework to assess the transport vulnerability of low income commuters.