Our Vision

The Partnership for Research on Informal and Shared Mobility (PRISM) is a global research consortium hosted at the Columbia Climate School's Center for Sustainable Urban Development that focuses on better understanding informal transport and shared mobility (ISM) with a focus on Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We explore pathways for enhancing access, services, working conditions, and reducing emissions from ISM, particularly for lower-income residents and their communities. Recognizing that vast number of people across the globe rely on popular transport modes that are informal and shared such as rickshaws, motorcycle taxis and minibuses, our aim is to explore how to work with and improve these services as well as support integration into institutionalized public transport modes as part of a focus on equity and justice, including climate justice.