The Future of Cities and Shared Mobility in India

Throughout the 20th century, economic growth in the developed world has typically gone hand in hand with rising rates of car ownership. In cities in developing countries, though, car ownership rates tend to be lower, with non-motorized, informal, and public transport accounting for a higher share of trips. That’s what makes 21st-century India such a compelling case study in the future of urban mobility: while its middle class is growing, and the demand to buy a car is increasing, India’s car ownership rates still remain far below those of most countries in the Global North.

A new study published by WXY Studio and commissioned by Uber digs into this transportation crossroads. The report argues that amid economic growth, Indian cities have the opportunity to avoid a car-oriented future through policies that enable more widespread use of shared mobility, safer walking and cycling environments, and stronger linkages between private mobility operators and public transport authorities. In nurturing and building out more robust multimodal networks, Indian cities can stave off the inequitable and environmentally unsustainable transportation systems that predominate in much of the developed world.

To learn more about the transportation landscape in India today, researchers at WXY conducted a review of government documents and academic research, administered surveys and interviews with experts in Indian transportation, and analyzed Uber’s trip data in 4 Indian cities — Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Nagpur. Drawing from this multifaceted approach, WXY identified 4 key findings and put forth 4 policy recommendations.

Key findings

1. Growth in personal vehicle ownership challenges India’s sustainable mobility future. A growing middle class is accelerating vehicle ownership in India, but rates remain far below that of countries in the Global North. Cities can stem this tide through integrated transport and land use policies and focusing on shared mobility.
2. Rethinking street design and parking policy is the key to improving non-motorized transport and achieving sustainability goals. Many of India’s urban roads are already stretched to their limits. Overcoming this challenge requires a holistic approach to street design that prioritizes non-motorized transport, regulates the use of curbside space and public sidewalks, and manages parking to discourage personal vehicle use, while generating consistent revenue for infrastructure projects.
3. The shift from personal vehicles to sustainable transport options can improve mobility access for everyone. Improved conditions for walking, cycling, public transport, and shared mobility will expand mobility for Indians without a car.
4. Public-private collaborations are paving the way for smart mobility. Stronger integration across public and private mobility services is improving public transport and increasing access to shared and sustainable mobility.

Policy recommendations

1. Empower multimodal mobility managers. The Unified Transport Bodies (UTBs) that exist in many cities can be empowered with regulatory tools to manage transport initiatives across agencies to better integrate shared mobility into existing transportation systems.
2. Adopt an integrated approach for land use and transport planning. Improving station area urban design will make travel safer, while improving first/last-mile connections to public transport.
3. Use shared mobility to connect underserved areas. Uber’s data shows high demand for Uber’s services in satellite towns and peripheral areas of Indian cities. Particularly in newly developed edge cities, shared mobility companies can provide connections to public transport and factor into developers’ transportation demand management plans.
4. Encourage a transition to sustainable mobility. Government subsidies for electric vehicles should apply to more vehicles (e.g. micromobility) and shared fleets, while targeting lower-income households, to make access more equitable.

It’s a unique moment in time for mobility in India, and we believe that Uber can play an important role in the implementation of these recommendations. As a tech platform connecting riders to on-demand, shared mobility options, Uber complements and fortifies Indian cities’ multimodal transport system by providing an alternative to car ownership and a means of connecting riders to public transport. As WXY presents in this report, Indian planners and administrators government can strengthen connections to private-sector mobility companies to promote innovation in transportation and increase access to sustainable mobility for all Indians.

Download the report: Future of Cities & Shared Mobility in India: How Emerging Mobility Paradigms Are Shaping Transportation Trends In Urban India

Related: In May 2023, at the 15th Annual General Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM India), Uber presented a separate report entitled Future of Urban Mobility. Similar to the WXY study, this report highlights the important role played by mobility platforms in enhancing shared mobility and the need to reduce the use of personal transport.