Reshaping Our Future Mobility — Do we really need automobiles?
By: Agung Maulana Ahmad
Tags: Transportation, Public Transit, Sustainable Development, Mobility, Opinion

Reshaping Our Future Mobility — Do we really need automobiles?

The COVID19 outbreak alters not only the way we work or the way we socialize but also the way we commute. The use of private automobiles seems to be the best choice. However, if we see the bigger picture, we will realize a completely different story. Agung Maulana Ahmad Feb 20·5 min read

The COVID19 outbreak has brought a huge impact on every aspect of our lives. It alters not only the way we work or the way we socialize, but also the way we commute. During the pandemic, people pay more attention to their health and tend to choose the safest transport option to prevent the spread of the virus. The use of private automobiles seems to be the best choice to avoid crowds as well as maintain physical distancing. People become more and more dependent on private-car use. However, if we see the bigger picture, we will realize a completely different story.

In Indonesia, Relying on private-car as a means of transportation is not a new thing. Having a private-car might be one of the Indonesian life-goals and most of them put private cars on their bucket list, even before the pandemic. Recent data[1] shows that more than one million automobiles have been sold in a year, thanks to the growth of the middle class. It increases the car ownership rate to 99 units per 1000 population. It does not look like a significant number, but Indonesia has more than 270 million residents which means more than 26,7 million cars are filling up Indonesian roads today.

Why do people love private-car?

Car-dependency will not happen without any reason. The most noticeable reason is the lack of public transportation options. In Jakarta, where the most reliable public transports are available, the number of existing fleets and routes are still far from sufficient to reduce people’s reliance on the private car. Some other cities or regencies even do not have any public transport operating in their region. While others have limited public transport available that runs with tons of problems such as unreliable, uncleanness, long delays, and even crimes. Public transports are often connected to the poor society and unpleasant trip. On the other hand, private-car provides a more convenient way of transport and also bring more prestige to the owner.

Another reason causing private-car reliance is the existence of the mindset that a wide street is a symbol of the modern city. Many policymakers believe that more lanes will smooth traffic flow. The wider street also attracts more affluent people to move in. Moreover, city developers also have a big role in this case. They secure the government permission to build runway-sized boulevards in every development project which spoils the private-car user. It is not difficult to find property advertisements that emphasize their selling point on multiple-lane streets, exclusivity, ease of access to the toll road, and luxurious gated community which very car-friendly.

In other cases, some developers often fail to remember (or pretend to forget) to build pavement or bike lanes to give access to pedestrians and cyclists. Walking and cycling are extremely inconvenient and dangerous in some areas. Thus, people are forced to use private-car or motorcycles even when the destination is located within walking distance.

Who should bear the consequence?

Reliance on automobiles can lead to several problems. The more cars asphalting, the more carbon footprints emitted. The massive amount of automobiles on the street also leads to congestion. If we live in a big city, we must be familiar with the situation where hundreds of cars are trapped in a long boulevard for hours resulting in an unavoidable gridlock. The government has spent billions of rupiahs to resolve the congestion problem by adding some new street lanes or even motorways within the city. But it never banishes the regular congestion. More time spent on traffic jams induces further amount of pollutant released to the air which is harmful to the environment.

By relying our mobility on private car, we create another problem: the shortage of space. Automobiles need a lot of space to be used as the parking lot, motorways, and also gigantic junctions. The size of the city is getting bigger. Yet still can not provide enough spaces for the growing population.

Private cars are exclusive, only the rich can afford to buy them. Meanwhile, the street is one of the public infrastructures which ideally promotes inclusivity. Allowing private cars to dominate the street indicates that the public infrastructure is not utilized equally.

The streets that belong to the car are also dangerous. Road accidents contribute to the fatality of approximately 1.35 million people each year. More than half of all deaths are vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists[2]. It affects not only people inside the car but also people outside the car.

How to solve that?

The experts and the government around the globe have conducted a lot of research trying to figure out the way to minimize the use of the private car. Many experiments such as enacting a carbon tax policy, congestion fares, and building mass rapid transit have been undertaken. The most important step to get rid of the reliance on private cars is creating reliable, convenient, and affordable public transport.

The keys to successful public transport are clean, safe, and inclusive[3]. It has to be clean to make passengers enjoy the trip. It must be safe and reliable so that people can start relying on it. Public transport must be inclusive so people from any background can take advantage of it.

Shifting major transportation modes to public transport will add many benefits. The environment will be more healthy as a result of a lower carbon footprint. It also significantly decreases the demand for parking space. So, the land can be used for other purposes such as public space, parks, and even public housing. Furthermore, it will compact city size so that the public vital service can be provided within walking distance. The rising number of people shifting to micromobility will reduce the carbon footprint further.

Building a reliable public transportation mode is not a single party responsibility. It requires government and stakeholders to have a deep understanding of the problem. Policymakers, developers, people, and other stakeholders have to collaborate to determine the exact vision and goals. The government should impose policies that support the provision and operation of public transport. Sustainable public transport does not stand by the mode itself. It should be integrated with a bigger system such as Transit-Oriented Development. It also requires a sustainable business model which can reduce the operational cost and cut down the fare. Periodic studies have to be performed to evaluate the public transport performance to adjust to the changing trend of mobility in the future.

In summary, the reliance on private automobiles leads to several problems ranging from environmental to inequality issues. Public transport is the most rational and effective way to resolve those problems. Building reliable transit is considered the primary key to reform the urban mobility.

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