Developing the shift to low-carbon transport through safety improvements for vulnerable groups

Project background:

This project aims to collaborate with transport and urban authorities, as well as community groups in Metropolitan Semarang, Surabaya, and Makassar, to explore and demonstrate approaches for enhancing the participation of women and marginalised groups in public transport planning and service improvements.

Project summary:

This project has supported the Indonesian Government’s capacity-building by engaging women and vulnerable groups in Semarang and Makassar. Through participatory activities enriched by insights from academia and local communities, feedback was gathered to inform tactical urbanism (TU) initiatives. These inputs directly contributed to the design of inclusive wayfinding systems that are more accessible and user-friendly, particularly for women and marginalised populations. A public video campaign was also launched to encourage behavioral shifts towards low-carbon transport modes, aiming to increase public transport usage and reduce emissions. 

Project outcomes:

• The implementation of tactical urbanism projects in both Semarang and Makassar showcased how participatory approaches can be effectively applied to improve urban mobility
• These initiatives demonstrated that community-driven, low-cost interventions could play a valuable role in shaping safer, more inclusive, and environmentally sustainable transport environments
• The project helped mainstream TU within local government strategies by aligning it with broader mobility planning efforts
• A mobility study on low-carbon initiatives was conducted in both cities, incorporating project demonstrations and design elements using tactical urbanism approaches
• This work also contributed to the development of a Subnational Strategy for Inclusive Transport (Rancangan Strategi Subnasional untuk Transportasi Inklusif), further strengthening the integration of inclusive, low-carbon principles into urban transport planning and policy