From Streets to Seats: The Role of Walkability in Shaping Public Transport Behavior–The Case of Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

Walkability and environmental attitudes significantly influence the adoption of public transport in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, as revealed by our extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) analysis of 500 respondents. This study uniquely integrates walkability and environmental attitudes into the TPB framework—an approach rarely applied in mid sized Southeast Asian cities with limited infrastructure. Key findings show: (1) Better walkability improves people’s attitude (β=0.26, p<0.01) and their sense of control (β=0.32, p<0.01) about using public transport; (2) Positive environmental attitudes directly influence the intention to use public transport (β=0.19, p<0.05); while (3) Gaps in infrastructure reduce the effectiveness of perceived control. These results suggest that integrated interventions—improving pedestrian connectivity while promoting sustainability awareness—could effectively increase transit ridership in this religiously conservative, infrastructure-limited city. Policymakers should prioritize walkability upgrades near transit stops and community-based environmental campaigns tailored to local cultural norms.