2025 Reports

From Diagnosis to Action: A Theory of Change Framework for Informal and Shared Mobility in Bogotá

Oviedo, Daniel; Sánchez-Gómez, Juan Esteban; Guevara-Aladino, Paula; Guzman Garcia, Luis Angel

A diverse array of informal and shared transport services, including shared taxis, minibuses, motorcycle taxis, and bicycle taxis, shape part of Bogotá’s mobility landscape. These systems provide flexible mobility options for underserved communities, yet they operate with varying degrees of governance, regulation, and embeddedness within their local contexts. While some modes have established semiformal structures, others remain in regulatory limbo, facing challenges such as limited recognition in transport planning, road safety concerns, conflicts with formal public transport systems, and vulnerability to policy shifts. This paper presents the Bogotá Informal and Shared Mobility Living Lab, a participatory urban living lab designed to engage transport operators, communities, and policymakers in co-producing experimental solutions to improve mobility futures. Using a Theory of Change approach, the Lab has developed a structured framework for fostering collaborative problem-solving and adaptive policymaking. Through an iterative process of participatory diagnosis, thematic dialogues, and co-creation of intervention pathways, the Lab defined the mission, vision, and structure of local teams, which will facilitate future experimentation and localised action in several locations where shared mobility systems, such as collective-use vans, informal shared taxis, and bike-taxis, operate under distinct regulatory and community conditions. By placing participatory research, governance adaptation, and knowledge co-production at its core, the Lab approach provides a scalable and adaptable model for engaging with informal transport providers and communities in rapidly urbanising cities. The findings demonstrate how these instruments can serve as structured platforms for testing alternative mobility governance models, fostering intersectoral collaboration, and integrating informal mobility into broader urban sustainability frameworks. This paper outlines the methodology underpinning the Lab and highlights its potential to inform policy innovation, experimental mobility solutions, and inclusive governance for shared transport systems in Bogotá and beyond.

Keywords: urban living lab; participatory planning; informal transport; transport justice; Bogotá