A minibus taxi rank in Kampala, Uganda. Photo by James Anderson / Flickr.
This guide will help users:
Understand the definition and characteristics of informal urban transit systems or "paratransit."1
Recognize the importance of these systems in providing equitable transportation to underserved areas.
Understand how these systems have evolved in Sub-Saharan African, Latin American, and Asian cities, as well as in developed countries.
Realize that although there are no global best practices, informal transit systems can be improved by better integration into citywide services.
1In Sub-Saharan Africa and some other developing countries, informal transit is called “paratransit,” meaning beyond standard transit. In the United States, paratransit refers to demand-responsive services that carry a person, often elderly or disabled, from door-to-door, which are not considered in this learning guide.