Abstract

Public transport is central to sustainable cities, yet its benefits are not evenly shared. Informal workers, who form a large share of Jakarta’s labour force, often face limited access to affordable and reliable transit. While urban transport planning in megacities increasingly emphasizes efficiency and digital solutions, the inclusiveness dimension remains poorly measured. This study introduces the Transit Living Index (TLI), a new composite measure designed to capture how accessible, efficient, and inclusive public transport is for different population groups, with a focus on informal workers.
The TLI framework combines geospatial statistics, transport network data, and social audit information. Indicators are structured around five dimensions: accessibility (coverage of bus and MRT routes, walkability, first-mile connections), efficiency (travel time isochrones, frequency of service), digitalization (availability of apps, e-ticketing systems), green mobility (integration with low-emission modes), and inclusivity (affordability and informal workers’ commuting conditions). Using microdata from all neighbourhoods (kelurahan) in Jakarta, the index integrates open transport data, satellite imagery, and survey audits of thousands of informal workers’ mobility experiences.
The results reveal sharp inequalities: even in transit-rich areas, affordability barriers and first-mile connectivity gaps hinder informal workers’ effective access. For some neighbourhoods, more than 40% of residents require additional travel time or cost just to reach the nearest transit hub. These disparities are invisible in aggregate indicators of service provision but become evident through the disaggregated lens of the TLI.
The contribution of this research is twofold. First, it provides a replicable methodological model that NSOs and city governments can adopt to measure mobility inclusiveness at granular spatial levels. Second, it demonstrates how combining geospatial statistics with user-level audits enriches official transport indicators and supports policy design aimed at “leaving no one behind.” The TLI thus bridges statistical innovation with practical governance, offering a decision-making tool for equitable transit development in rapidly urbanizing regions.
This work contributes directly to the IAOS 2026 theme by showing how statistics can deliver value in a digital society, enhance geospatial visualization for public decision-making, and promote inclusive approaches to urban mobility. It aligns most strongly with the strands on Delivering Value: Statistics for an Informed and Digital Society and Building Symbiotic Partnerships.