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SINGARAJA — The overwhelming dominance of private vehicles in Singaraja City has triggered severe transportation problems, ranging from traffic accumulation to a decline in the overall efficiency of the urban traffic network. This phenomenon prompted I Gede Agung Wisnu Segara, Putu Alit Suthanaya, and Dewa Made Priyantha Wedagama from Universitas Udayana to conduct an intensive study in 2026 focusing on shift patterns and community preferences to encourage the public to return to mass transit. Published in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, this study serves as a critical strategic framework for local authorities in formulating sustainable urban transportation restructuring plans.

The current baseline of public transit services in the urban core of Buleleng Regency is experiencing a deeply concerning phase. Out of approximately 24 conventional public transport routes or local mini-buses known as bemo administratively listed in Buleleng, in reality, only about 7 routes remain actively operational within the Singaraja municipal boundaries. This drastic drop has been heavily driven by poor vehicle comfort, highly unpredictable passenger waiting intervals at stops, and routes that fail to directly link to major modern community centers. This deterioration is further accelerated by the financial ease of motorcycle ownership and the rise of digital ride-hailing applications that present superior flexibility, prompting a mass departure of passengers from conventional options.

To systematically capture public willingness and transit service expectations, the research team from Universitas Udayana utilized the Stated Preference approach. This survey method was executed by administering structured questionnaires to Singaraja residents, exposing respondents to a series of simulated travel choice scenarios. These hypothetical configurations incorporated specific service quality improvements not currently available in the real world, including simulated fare structures, reduced waiting intervals, modern passenger vehicle comfort fittings, and route network expansions. Through this instrument, the researchers managed to isolate the exact attributes that are most influential in steering public interest toward a mode switch.

The resulting data shows that public transit utilization in Singaraja is currently exceptionally low due to the intense daily reliance on private transport modes. Nevertheless, the preference analysis revealed a strong, positive underlying willingness among the public to adopt public transit if a commitment to structural service quality enhancement is implemented. The most dominant factors determining whether citizens would make the switch are the shortening of waiting intervals and substantial improvements to the physical comfort of the operating fleet. Citizens conveyed explicit readiness to re-embrace public transit under the condition that vehicles are clean, properly ventilated, occupancy levels are regulated to prevent overcrowding, and departures stick to a fixed, reliable schedule.

The implications of this research offer a concrete policy roadmap for upgrading transit regulations and spatial planning in North Bali. Reflecting the stated desires of the public, the immediate priority for planners and transit operators is to execute an overhaul of degraded vehicles and optimize the route architecture to establish direct links into high-density residential developments, school zones, and commercial hubs. These measures must be backed by infrastructure investments, such as building decent bus shelters and installing transparent route schedules to drive up spatial accessibility and restore public confidence in mass transit efficiency.

The execution of these preference-based structural adjustments is expected to not only restore economic viability to the local transport industry but also yield substantial long-term benefits for the environmental health of Singaraja. Curbing private vehicle usage will directly translate into reduced fossil fuel consumption and minimized roadside carbon emissions. Through collaborative policies tailored around actual passenger needs, public transport in Singaraja can successfully transition back into a competitive, safe, and environmentally sustainable system.

Author Profiles

  • I Gede Agung Wisnu Segara — Universitas Udayana.
  • Putu Alit Suthanaya — Universitas Udayana.
  • Dewa Made Priyantha Wedagama — Universitas Udayana.

Research Sources

Article Title: Analysis of Community Preferences and Strategies to Increase Public Transportation Utilization in Singaraja City Using a Stated Preference Approach
Journal Name: East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR)
Publication Year: 2026
DOI: [https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i6.189](https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i6.189)
Official URL: [https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr](https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr)