Transport Challenges in Underserved Communities: Implications for Social Inclusion and Economic Mobility

Latifat Ojo & Rahmon Abdul, Volume 7 Issue 1, July 2026 Pages 72-84, Published: 2026-06-24

Abstract

Transportation systems significantly influence access to jobs, education, healthcare, social networks, and civic life. Nonetheless, mobility inequities continue to harm inhabitants of low-income, outlying, and otherwise underserved communities. This systematic analysis brings together information from five recent studies to investigate the multifaceted nature of transportation disadvantage and its consequences for social inclusion and economic mobility. The analysis, which follows known systematic review standards, combines qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and conceptual contributions to reflect the layered restrictions that limit mobility opportunities. Across these studies, transport disadvantage is portrayed as a cumulative state molded by infrastructural deficiencies, cost issues, safety concerns, informational hurdles, and socio-cultural factors. These limits disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including elderly persons, low-income households, people with impairments, and residents of geographically segregated areas, whose mobility is hampered by overlapping vulnerabilities. The paper emphasizes how a spatial mismatch between residential areas and vital opportunities exacerbates mobility constraints, contributing to social isolation, limited labor market access, and decreased involvement in community activities. While targeted transportation investments can increase accessibility and promote economic inclusion, their effectiveness is dependent on understanding that accessibility is influenced not only by service availability, but also by individuals' capacities, confidence, and contextual restrictions. The findings highlight the importance of equity-oriented planning approaches that address structural and capability-based impediments to mobility. The research emphasises the importance of comprehensive policy initiatives that target excluded populations and promote long-term mobility justice by revealing the underlying links between transport disadvantage, social exclusion, and economic immobility.