Abstract:

Governments’ responses to the COVID-19 health crisis have had strong impacts on mobility, both on a local and global level. Public transport patronage has plummeted by 90% in some parts of the world, according to UITP’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the industry has been dramatically hit. The informal transport sector, which plays a major role in many cities worldwide, has been equally impacted.

This Knowledge Brief consolidates a detailed report and a series of three webinars that took place in the second half of 2020, giving a specific focus on the informal transport industry1. It highlights some of the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and reinforces the case for transforming informal transport.

Relevant case studies present practical experiences that have contributed to improving resilience and sustainability of informal transport for users, service providers and authorities. This paper identifies key insights and concluding questions that can help with understanding the necessary transformation process.