From the Streets to the Community: Online Motorcycle Taxi Associations as Informal Safety Nets for Social Cohesion and Sustainability

Abstract

The conditions faced by online motorcycle taxi drivers in the gig economy are characterized by job flexibility, income uncertainty, and a lack of formal protection from the state or app companies. This situation puts them in a vulnerable position to various risks, ranging from work accidents and economic pressure to social burdens that are not covered by the official social security system. Amidst this vulnerability, online motorcycle taxi associations have emerged as solidarity-based communities that have grown from grassroots initiatives and become an important forum for drivers to protect each other. The main problem faced is how online motorcycle taxi workers can build social cohesion in an individualistic work climate, while overcoming potential conflicts of interest among members with different backgrounds, interests, and needs. This tension requires community mechanisms that can maintain unity while ensuring the sustainability of solidarity. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of associations as spaces for social cohesion and informal safety nets, as well as to analyze the internal mechanisms that enable these communities to remain solid, adaptive, and sustainable. The research method used a qualitative approach with field observations and content analysis of interactions on Facebook groups, which are the main communication medium for community members. The analysis focused on interaction patterns, forms of social support, and conflict resolution strategies that arise within the community. The results show that online motorcycle taxi communities not only strengthen solidarity and mutual trust, but also create conflict management mechanisms through deliberation, internal rules, and informal mediation. Furthermore, these communities act as a social safety net in the face of crises, ranging from accidents and disasters to economic hardship. These findings confirm the strategic role of the community as a social space that strengthens economic protection, social cohesion, and community sustainability amid the dynamics of the gig economy.