Introduction

Toward Efficient Informal Urban Transit

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.

¹ In 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.