Climate change and commuting : A case study on commuting students dealing with floods
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2013-07
Language
en
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Abstract
Climate change threats cities all over the world and especially those in developing countries
are at risk. South East Asian countries urbanize rapidly and the expanding cities, especially
in coastal areas, are put in a vulnerable position for threats such as floods. Floods are one of
the most severe climate change threats for Indonesia and the city of Semarang on Central
Java. It threatens the livelihoods of those living in the city’s flood prone areas including their
commuting possibilities. Floods damages the roads and the high water levels on the streets
make it difficult and risky for commuters to get through. Understanding changes in
commuting patterns is essential for sustainable city development. This research aims to
contribute to the understanding of the ways in which commuters are influenced by floods in
their commuting processes. What experiences do people living in flood prone areas have
with these floods and what decisions do they make for trying to commute when dealing with
floods? To understand the severity of the problem this research focuses on students in
Semarang as a highly mobile group of commuters. Twenty students of the Soegijapranata
Catholic University (UNIKA) living in flood prone areas were selected as respondents by
using snowball-effect sampling. The students were interviewed about their commuting
behavior during floods and what flood experiences they had in their living area. Observations
were made by going to the flood prone living areas of some of the students to see their living
conditions, the neighborhoods and the roads they take.
The results of this research reveal that the students are mostly capable of commuting during
floods by making various changes in their commuting decisions; using a different mode of
transportation, taking a different route, leaving home earlier or living somewhere else
temporarily. However despite these changes commuting during flood was still difficult and
sometimes even impossible. This research wants to carry out that even for a highly mobile
group such as students, it is challenging to commute when dealing with floods. The flood
impact on people with less commuting possibilities can be expected to be more severe. In
addition floods and climate change threats are expected to get even worse and the
possibilities for the commuter needs attention by improving infrastructure in expanding cities
like Semarang, in order for them to develop sustainably.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen