Mobility of livelihood with a lens of equity

Abstract

With rapid urbanization and sprawling cities, the urban population experiences increased commuting distance and restricted access to various facilities. The transportation cost for the household expenditure leads to high burdens or exclusion from other opportunities. The burden increases particularly in low-income households, rendering them to enter the nexus of poverty. The study investigates the concept of transportation affordability as the financial burden on household’s due to transportation cost to access various services and facilities. The transportation cost considered includes various factors such as vehicle’s ownership, its use, public transport costs and value of travel time for its measurement. Since, accessibility to jobs and services is key to a city’s economic vitality & quality of life; the research aims to provide strategies for affordable mobility concerning livelihood of low income group in the study area, Ludhiana. The city is selected on basis of population, socio-economic profile, per capita vehicle ownership and share of public transport in total trips generated. The identified slums in the study area were classified based on factors influencing transportation expenditure, such as access to public transportation and the availability of economic opportunities. This approach has been used to understand the relationship between low-income households' spatial location and their travel needs, travel behaviour, and access to livelihood levels. It also reflects the variation in average expenditure on transport that low income households make to satisfy their travel needs to support their livelihood. Data collected through household surveys, stakeholder interviews and other secondary sources has been used to understand constraints of the available transportation services and associated financial implications to work trips of low income groups in peak hours. The research also focus to analyse and bridge gap between affordable costs and existing travel cost of available modes. The research suggests spatial strategies and policy intervention required to reduce the transportation cost and to provide affordable mobility for the target group. The reduction in transportation expenditure thus increases purchasing power, improves quality of living and reduces socio-economic disparities.