Abstract

The exploding rate of growth of vulnerable groups and transport insecurity in developing cities poses great challenges to planners and policy makers. In the light of this, the paper examined vulnerability and mobility stress coping strategies differentials among male and female in a developing city-Lagos, Nigeria. The study used primary data, which were obtained through a questionnaire survey of 356 respondents in Lagos. Indices of individual coping strategies and the weighted sum reflecting frequency and severity of respondents mobility stress coping strategies were used as a proxy for indicating the vulnerability of male and female respondents to mobility stress. Variables used include socio-economic characteristics such as number of vehicle in household, purpose of daily trip, number of trips, trip distance, travel time, income, age and travel difficulties. The result shows that female respondents were more vulnerable to mobility stress than the male. Sources of stress are basically associated with travel difficulties. There was higher prevalence of long-waiting at bus stop, prolong travel time, uncomfortable means of travel and expensive cost of travel among female respondents. This implies that female respondents had less access to and utilization of  comfortable services transport and are therefore more transport-in secure than their male counterpart. The paper emphasis the need to improve the current state of transport infrastructures in the country. Female and their counterparts (male) need transport enlightenment in order for them to be able to cope with stressful mobility conditions.

Key words: Vulnerability, stress, mobility, coping strategies and transport insecurity