Assessing Job Accessibility and Sustainable Mobility among Low-income Groups in Penang, Malaysia

Rosli, Hafizah; Samat, Narimah; Abu Bakar, Mohd. Azmeer · 2024 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3311/pptr.22849

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Summary

This study investigates job accessibility and sustainable mobility among low-income urban workers in Penang Island, Malaysia, aiming to identify the factors driving their dominant transport mode choices. The research is motivated by Penang’s severe reliance on private vehicles, which exacerbates traffic congestion and undermines quality of life, despite government initiatives like free bus passes and the Penang Transport Master Plan. While sustainable mobility is critical for reducing emissions and enhancing socio-economic equity, low-income groups in Penang continue to prefer private transport, particularly motorbikes, over public buses. The study seeks to understand this preference to inform more effective, cost-effective, and efficient transport policies. The researchers employed a quantitative methodology, distributing questionnaires to 306 respondents selected via stratified random sampling. Participants were low-income households enrolled in the eKasih welfare program in the northeast and southwest districts of Penang, chosen for their high urbanization levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS, including descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between transport mode choice and influencing factors such as distance to workplace, proximity to public transport, vehicle ownership, and commuting costs. Findings reveal that low-income workers significantly rely on privately owned vehicles, with motorcycles being the dominant mode (29.08% in the northeast and 42.81% in the southwest). Most respondents lived within 15 km of their workplace and within 5 km of a public transport station, yet still preferred private transport. Monthly commuting costs were generally low, with the majority spending less than USD 42.79. Multiple regression analysis indicated that independent variables explained 23% of the variance in transport mode choice. Key determinants included distance to the workplace and proximity to public transport hubs, with statistical significance confirmed by an F-test value of 107.783. The results suggest that affordability and punctuality are primary drivers for choosing motorbikes, which are perceived as economically viable and temporally expedient. The study concludes that despite the availability of public transport infrastructure, low-income groups in Penang prioritize private vehicle ownership due to perceived efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This reliance highlights a gap in the effectiveness of current public transport systems, which fail to meet the trust, comfort, and safety expectations of users. The findings imply that policymakers must focus on enhancing the affordability, reliability, and efficiency of public transport to incentivize a shift away from private vehicles. Addressing these factors is essential for achieving sustainable mobility goals and improving job accessibility for low-income populations in developing urban contexts.

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• demographic disparities