An investigation of physical attributes relevant to the informal street hawking in the urban spaces of Dhaka city

Abstract

Making places for people ascertain the idea that the physical elements, activities and meaning are tied in the art for life. This paper focuses on the effects of informal street hawking in the urban spaces in Dhaka city. The urban informal sector is a vibrant section of the urban economy worldwide. An organized street hawking in the urban spaces could be part of city precedence for the benefit of the city community. However, the informal street hawking are always perceived to be a negative element of urban setting. Therefore, this paper investigates the issues and problems associated with the street hawking in the urban spaces based on users‟ perception. To evaluate the influence of physical attributes in using the urban public spaces a multiple sources of evidence, which included the questionnaire survey and physical observation, were carried out in two study areas in Dhaka city. This study used a case study approach to make a comprehensive understanding of the current condition of street hawking in the city. The findings revealed that the deterioration of physical attributes is associated with the street activity and influences the users‟ perception of the public places. The paper recommended on the potentiality of street hawking and its improvement for the society and economy, therefore, space organization is essential in making sustainable city community.