Enhancing Sustainable Urban Mobility in Coastal Metropolitan Cities in Indonesia
Large-scale infrastructure projects often fall short when they don’t align with the realities of the people that use them. Transport systems that don’t align with people’s needs risk becoming underutilized, inequitable or even obsolete. So how can cities ensure that communities have a voice in shaping the systems they rely on every day?
In Indonesia, the cities of Surabaya and Makassar are taking bold steps to answer this question. As part of their post-COVID recovery plans, both cities have prioritized sustainable urban mobility—working to develop transportation systems that are lower in emissions, more resilient, safer and more inclusive. Through the UK Partnering for Accelerating Climate Transitions (UK PACT) project, funded by the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, they are striving to build a more people-centered future.
Since April 2022, this initiative has been implemented across both cities, bridging local, provincial and national decision-making. Working alongside Arup and the World Resources Institute Indonesia, Vital Strategies has played a key role in providing technical support and placing community voices at the heart of this transformation.
Achieving sustainable urban mobility takes more than just better infrastructure—it requires genuine engagement with communities. That’s why a key focus of this project has been integrating gender equality, disability and social inclusion groups into transport planning.
Over the past three years, more than 25 focus group discussions and multi-stakeholder forums have brought together diverse community voices, including:
- PERDIK (Disability Rights Advocacy)
- HWDI (Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities)
- PPDI (Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities)
- LPT Surabaya (Surabaya Blind People Association)
- Gerkatin (Indonesian Deaf Welfare Movement)
Makassar is the largest city on the island of Celebes, and it thrives on its connection to the sea. However, its transport infrastructure often overlooks the daily needs of its island residents. While tourism drives much of the island-to-mainland transport, local communities remain underserved. For many residents, access to essential services, education and employment on the mainland depends on unreliable, informal transport arrangements with commercial fishing vessels.
To address this, the city engages in “Tudang Sipulung,” a traditional community gathering method in Makassar. City transport agencies, law enforcement and community organizations sit together—not as officials and citizens, but as equals—to openly discuss transportation challenges and solutions. This inclusive approach has encouraged residents to actively participate in shaping public transport policies, making their voices an integral part of decision-making.
In Surabaya, where many residents and commuters rely on private vehicles due to limited and fragmented public transport options, accessibility remains a challenge. Without coordinated efforts, the experiences of people like Nur, a visually impaired commuter, risk being overlooked.
Nur said that one of the biggest barriers for visually impaired people is the lack of an integrated payment system across the city’s three main bus operators. Without a seamless fare system, visually impaired passengers struggle to confirm cash payments, leaving them vulnerable to being overcharged or excluded from using public transport altogether.
Stories like Nur’s have been crucial in shaping advocacy efforts. Similar insights have now been documented in “Kiri Depan, Daeng,” an e-book that captures the experiences and aspirations of marginalized communities in Makassar. Launched at the Makassar International Writers’ Festival in 2024, the book has sparked critical conversations about low-carbon and inclusive mobility—engaging government representatives, universities, media and local communities.
The future of sustainable urban mobility isn’t just about reducing emissions or improving efficiency: It’s about designing transport systems that are safe, accessible and inclusive from the beginning.
The work in Surabaya and Makassar has shown that when cities actively listen to their communities, they create transport solutions that people actually use and benefit from. More importantly, they foster a sense of ownership and trust—key ingredients for long-term success.
As this project nears completion, cities will be better prepared to embrace the power of inclusive decision-making in urban planning. Because at the end of the day, the best transport systems are the ones that leave no one behind.