Roundtable on Informal Transport: maximising societal benefits and minimising negative externalities

Background

In many emerging economies, informal transport (paratransit-type services using a range of vehicle types with various degrees of official sanction depending on context specific regulations) form an indispensable mobility service for millions of people. These services, sometimes also referred to as ‘popular transport’, provide benefits including on-demand mobility, employment opportunities, and service coverage in areas devoid of formal public transport supply or for lower-income users. However, they can also generate negative externalities including traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, and crashes. Experienced transport quality by users can also be lower than adequate in some cases. Despite its importance, the role of informal transport has historically received less research attention than other transport domains. This is especially the case in mid-sized and less dense areas, as most informal transport research focuses on experiences of larger, often capital, cities.

Objectives

The purpose of this roundtable is to provide analysis to member countries on how the societal benefits of informal transport can best be maximised while managing its negative externalities. This Roundtable will focus on how authorities assess the externalities linked to paratransit services, the results of such assessments, and how they lead to decisions on paratransit reform. The expected outcome of the Roundtable is a set of principles to help authorities better assess, select and implement reforms that can maximise societal benefits and minimise negative externalities