News Blog

"In Mumbai’s Urban Peripheries, a Shared Autorickshaw System Is Redefining First- and Last-Mile Connectivity"

A Post-Exhibition Report By Alex Mohan Kandathil, Aneerudha Paul, Shreya Baoni, Kshitija Akre and Darsheet Vora

On May 10 - 17, the Mumbai Living Lab hosted the "Transit Tales" exhibition at Kamalnayan Bajaj Hall & Art Gallery in Mumbai, inviting the public to engage with the Lab's research on the city's autorickshaw system. Through paintings, maps, architectural drawings, rap music and short documentaries, the exhibition explored the shared autorickshaw system and challenged perceptions…

Deadline Extended!

Informal and Shared Mobility in a Comparative Perspective: Collaborative and Peer Learning for Sustainable Transitions

Graduate Research Academy 2026 is an international training and collaborative program for Master's and PhD students organized by Chulalongkorn University Transportation Institute (CUTI) in collaboration with the Partnership for Research on Informal and Shared Mobility (PRISM), Department of Urban and Regional Planning (CUURP), Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University, the University of Tokyo, and University of Southern California.

The Graduate Research…

Call for Papers!

Informal and Shared Mobility: Charting Opportunities and Challenges in Digitization, Equity, Governance, and Sustainable Transitions in the Global South

The African Transport Studies, Latin American Transport Studies, and Asian Transport Studies are issuing a joint special issue on Informal and Shared Mobility: Charting Opportunities and Challenges in Digitization, Equity, Governance, and Sustainable Transitions in the Global South. 

Rapid urbanization, digital change, governance gaps, and climate pressure make Informal and Shared Mobility (ISM) vital for…

Columbia Climate School and PRISM Welcome Fulbright Scholar Robert Ambunda

Columbia Climate School and the Partnership for Research on Informal and Shared Mobility (PRISM) are excited to announce Dr. Robert Ambunda's visit on February 18, 2026. Dr. Robert Ambunda, a champion of safe and inclusive transportation, is currently A Fulbright Visiting Professor at the University of Alabama (with the Alabama Transport Institute) and a senior academic at the University of Namibia (UNAM). With expertise in transportation planning and mobility systems, policy and regulation, and transport…

The 7th Annual Women and Transport Conference, specially organized by the FLONE Initiative Trust and graciously supported by the Volvo Research and Educational Foundation (VREF) and other sponsors, occurred from December 3rd to 5th 2025, at the vibrant Simba Corp (Mitsubishi) - Aspire Centre in Westlands, Nairobi. Under the inspiring theme “Leading the Way, Mobility Re-imagined,” the event attracted an impressive lineup of speakers representing a diverse array of professionals, academics, policymakers, and public transport users.

Call for Abstracts!

We are excited to share that the first Global Convening on Informal and Shared Mobility (ISM) is happening on October 26-28, 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand!

This convening will bring together ISM workers and businesses, researchers, and representatives from government and civil society to explore ways to advance ISM inclusion, improvements, and integration into key interrelated policy realms such as transportation, public health, climate and the economy. This convening will provide a critical global platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to share new knowledge,…

In September, under the PRISM–VREF Living Lab Initiative, researchers Elena Campos Matarrita and Carla Quesada Alluin from the San José Living Lab visited Bogotá, Colombia, to engage in a week of collaborative learning around Popular Transportation.

The exchange, hosted by the Bogotá Living Lab, featured Theory of Change workshops, field visits across three localities, and hands-on exploration of Bogotá’s multimodal transport systems.

The visit culminated in defining next steps for a comparative article on Popular Transportation in San José and Bogotá, an initiative aimed at advancing shared…

Save the Date!

To take place October 23–28, 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
 

This landmark event will bring together researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and practitioners from across the globe to shape the future of informal and shared mobility—the systems that move millions daily but often remain overlooked in planning and policy.

Partnership for Research on Informal and Shared Mobility PRISM Columbia University at Columbia Climate School is proud to co-organize this global gathering alongside:
VREF Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF)
Chulalongkorn University Transportation…

Modernizing Mexico City’s Popular Transport

PRISM is pleased to share news of a new project supported by the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) and University College London (UCL), documenting the ongoing modernization of Mexico City’s microbus system. For decades, microbuses have been the backbone of urban mobility for millions of residents, but reforms are now underway to address safety, efficiency, and equity concerns.

The project is led by Daniel Oviedo (UCL) and Fernanda Rivera (UCL, former General Director of Public Transport, Mexico City) and forms part of VREF’s Informal…

"From Mumbai to Ghana: An Exciting Journey Through the Ghana (Accra - Kumasi) Living Lab Experience!"

A Post-Visit Report from Shreya Baoni

[VREF Next Generation Scholar, Mumbai Living Lab]

"From Accra to Mumbai: An Exciting Journey Through the Mumbai Living Lab Experience!"

A Post-Visit Report from Solomon Dzikunu-Quarshie

[VREF Next Generation Scholar, Accra-Kumasi Living Lab, University of Ghana]