Advisers

Dexter C. Pon, RCrim, MSCJ

Discipline

Urban Planning And Transportation

Abstract

Street vending provides livelihoods in densely populated urban areas but may reduce sidewalk and roadway capacity when unregulated. This study examined perceptions of street-vendor encroachment, traffic volume, pedestrian safety, enforcement, and road management in Barangay 176A, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. The study used a quantitative descriptive design. A researcher-developed survey was administered to 70 commuters, residents, street vendors, and local officials selected through purposive and random sampling. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, weighted mean, ranking, and analysis of variance to assess levels of agreement and differences among respondent groups. Respondents perceived street vendors as an important contributor to traffic congestion. Vendor presence on sidewalks and roadways was reported as reducing available road space and disrupting traffic flow, particularly during peak periods in vendor-dense areas. Respondents also associated these conditions with longer travel times and pedestrian-safety concerns. Existing enforcement and road-management strategies were rated as moderately effective. Significant differences in perceptions were reported among resident groups, while street-vendor responses were described as more consistent. The findings suggest that unregulated street vending was perceived as contributing to congestion and pedestrian-safety concerns in the study area. Stronger and more consistent road-use management should be balanced with measures that protect vendors’ livelihoods and support sustainable urban management.

Keywords

street vendors, traffic congestion, vendor encroachment, pedestrian safety, road management