Street vendors

This paper presents a 'spontaneous location' theory to explain the choice and appropriation of s treet spaces by s treet vendors for their private enterprises in the central division of Kampala city. It provides for how s treet space locations are chosen and acquired for vending activities. To attain an appropriate sample size, the concept of saturation was used, whereby respondents were selected based on the type of goods sold, how goods were sold, the s treet occupied, time of vending, gender, age, and spatial dis tribution on the s treets. Subsequently, 90 respondents were sampled from 30 s treets. The selection of s treets was based on the exis ting land uses the intensity of vending, and their spatial dis tribution. In the s tudy, direct observations and interviews were used to collect data. Reference was made to location theories and business location decisions. Results indicate that s treet vendors tend to locate their enterprises on roads and paths with high human traffic that offers a market for their goods. We conclude that the ambiguity of government agencies towards s treet vendors and the audacity of s treet vendors as citizens with rights to urban space could promote more random locations of s treet enterprises and set a s tage for further s treet space use contes tation. To avert further conflict arising from the appropriation of spaces, we recommend that s treets identified by s treet vendors for their s treet enterprises be assessed for feasibility and valorized by city authorities to allow the enterprises to take place and generate revenue for the city. 

ehran's metro street vendors represent a marginalized occupational minority within the capital city and, from a cultural standpoint, constitute a significant case study. In recent years, economic hardship has led to a noticeable increase in the number of street vendors operating within the metro system. These individuals interact daily with a wide range of passengers across various metro stations and, due to the official prohibition of vending in such spaces—as well as the stigmatizing attitudes held by some members of the public—they experience unique social conditions compared to the broader population. One of the key factors influencing individuals' perceptions of their social status and identity is the media. Among media platforms, virtual social networks hold a distinct position due to their interactive nature and high potential for user engagement. Statistics show that these networks have increasingly become primary sources of communication, information, and entertainment for the public.This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 street vendors in Tehran's metro system, exploring their engagement with various virtual social networks and the self-perceptions shaped through these interactions. The findings indicate that the vendors tend to develop a negative self-image through their experiences on these platforms and often do not receive a favorable representation of themselves within virtual social spaces.