Understanding physical settings of street vendors in Surakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

This study discussed the physical settings of street vendors in Surakarta and how they affected customers’ comfortability. Methods used were observation, place centered mapping, photo documentations, and informal interviews. Analysis was done qualitatively until a conclusion was obtained. Results of the study were types of prepared-food street vendors in Surakarta, namely: warung tenda, angkringan, street food carts (unmodified and modified carts), and unmovable stalls (semi-permanent and permanent stalls). Street vendor’s physical settings influenced customers’ physical and social comfortability. Physical comfortability was derived from street vendors’ location which usually under shade trees, consumer area was in open area, and not covered by tarps, has cool temperature, customers can sit comfortably, and customers can sit lesehan. Social comfortability was obtained when customers have a space to socialize; regardless the space was physically narrow. Factors related to social comfortability are the seller’s hospitality; customers can have a chat for hours, and low price food. In urban scale, it is hoped that this research can help the municipal government in formulating better policies related to street vendor management, specifically in developing clusters of street vendors (Shelter PKL).