Qualitative assessment of traffic congestion issues in car-oriented cities: Insights from Malaysian commuters

抄録

Traffic congestion in car-oriented regions leads to longer travel times, increased emissions, and reduced commuter well-being. This study examines key factors contributing to private car dependency from the perspective of workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using data collected between June 10 and July 20, 2023. A combination of word cloud generation, thematic categorisation, sentiment analysis, and binary logistic regression was employed to analyse commuter responses. Despite around 70% of respondents living within 400 meters of public transport, more than 80% still rely on private vehicles. Barriers such as poor last-mile connectivity, delays, and inadequate infrastructure were frequently cited. Fixed-time workers experience heightened vulnerability due to rigid schedules and congestion-related delays, while flex-time workers report service inefficiencies during off-peak hours. The findings suggest that enhancing public transport reliability, infrastructure, and scheduling, along with supporting flexible work policies, can reduce car dependency and alleviate congestion in urban, car-dominated regions.