- Informal transit encompasses a range of vehicle capacity, vehicle types (two/three-wheelers, motorized or non-motorized), and different schedule and coverage patterns. In developing countries, it is also called paratransport, or “beyond” the formal transit system.
- Informal systems fill a gap in the formal transport systems provided by governments.
- Many urban systems, including informal systems, are path-dependent: the past development trajectory will likely illuminate the future.
- The histories of Sub-Saharan African, Latin American, and Asian cities show the emergence and importance of informal transit systems and indicate how they might move forward.
- Informal systems are ubiquitous in developing countries, and are recently popular in high-income cities in developed countries.
- Urban governments can benefit by coordinating and fostering safe, efficient informal transit systems.
