VREF Volvo Research and Educational Foundations

I’m excited to announce the publication of our first working paper based on my PhD research on the impact of road and street designs on walking as a mode of transport in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper assesses pedestrian-friendly and hostile elements using a checklist and analyzed 30 in-depth interviews with residents along two roads with distinct designs in Bamenda, the third largest city in Cameroon, to understand how different road designs influence residents’ willingness to walk, as well as their feelings of safety, comfort, and convenience. Our findings reveal that walking is significantly affected by conflicts with motorized vehicles, particularly motorcycles (also known as ‘okadas’), and poor road conditions. Interestingly, we found that poor road conditions, especially potholes, enhances pedestrian safety by forcing vehicles to slow down, enabling pedestrians to cross roads safely. We highlight the need for policies or enforcement regarding sidewalk use and the design of roads that prioritize walking, enabling pedestrians to walk with dignity and pride. I sincerely appreciate VREF Volvo Research and Educational Foundations for funding this project, Prof. Lawrence Fombe for hosting me during data collection and for being a co-author, and Prof. Karel Martens (he) for his guidance in my PhD research and contribution to this paper. Special thanks to all members of the Fair Transport Lab for your exceptional collaboration. https://lnkd.in/eC2Q-jZZ 

Framtidens attraktiva och tillgängliga platser. Vilka är de och hur bör de utformas för att vara långsiktigt hållbara?! Och hur ställer vi om så att återbruk, cirkularitet och mobilitet kan hanteras på ett platsbaserat och integrerat vis? Det och mycket mer arbetar vi med i ShiftSweden programkontor, bland annat genom utlysningar och strategiska samarbeten. Våra programchefer och -kollegor minglar sig runt i Sverige för att få träffa er och prata mer om vad vi kan göra tillsammans. Vill du veta mer om hur just du och din organisation kan engagera dig och dra nytta av de medel som tillgängliggörs? Nästa tillfälle är vi på Trafikverket stolta värdar för dessa viktiga frågor på vårt kontor i Borlänge. 🌟 Varför inte komma dit och träffa oss? https://lnkd.in/dSKG6Vvk Emma Hult John Hultén Carl-Martin Vikingsson Jenny Simonson Elias Arnestrand Jonna Bäckström PhD Maria Nilsson Katarina Lind Trafikverket Boverket RISE Research Institutes of Sweden IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet VTI, Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut IQ Samhällsbyggnad Region Stockholm Västra Götalandsregionen Region Skåne – utveckling & innovation Skånetrafiken Västtrafik VREF Volvo Research and Educational Foundations

🌍 Popular Transportation: A Key Driver for Equity, Health, and Climate Action 🚍✨ In September 2024, changemakers from around the globe convened at the Bellagio Center for the Emergent + Empowered: Mobilizing Global Popular Transportation Networks event. This transformative gathering united diverse voices—from transport workers and labor organizers to researchers and funders—to co-create a roadmap for advancing popular transportation as a cornerstone of sustainable urban development. This initiative was made possible by the collaboration of: 🤝 Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) 🤝 Center for Sustainable Urban Development (Columbia Climate School) 🤝 Partnership for Research on Informal and Shared Mobility (PRISM) 🤝 VREF Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) 🤝 Global Network for Popular Transportation (GNPT) 🤝 micelio With special thanks to the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center Key outcomes from the event include: ✅ Strategic pathways to integrate popular transportation into climate action and equity goals. ✅ New funding avenues to modernize fleets and promote eco-friendly practices. ✅ Research hubs to build evidence-based policies for greater impact. We’re excited to announce the Paratransit/Popular Transport Day as a step forward in this mission. This initiative shines a spotlight on the vital role of popular transportation in building resilient, inclusive cities. Details to follow shortly—stay tuned! 📢 Join us in celebrating this day and amplifying the conversation. Let’s shape a sustainable future for urban mobility together! 🔗 Read the full event summary and learn about the next steps #Sustainability #UrbanMobility #ClimateAction #Paratransit #PopularTransport #Equity

Motorbike taxis play a significant role in daily life across Thailand, providing millions with quick and affordable transportation. However, their convenience also leads to challenges, particularly concerning city pollution and carbon emissions. Join us in the next Global Network for Popular Transportation Meet & Greet  with our awesome friends from Chulalongkorn University, a.k.a. the Bangkok Living Lab from the PRISM Columbia University, and learn and discuss how two-wheelers are the low-hanging fruit in terms of electrification. Register now: https://lnkd.in/erk2wznx.

🚐 🛵 Are you a young/early career scholar in transport research? 🛺 🛴 Welcome to join our NextGen Research Forum 4 December – when we will focus on Reflections on Advances and Opportunities in Informal and Shared Mobility. Moderators: Ms. Paschalin Basil and Robert Ambunda, PhD Presenters and discussants: Solomon Dzikunu-Quarshie, Obed K. Bore, Haniefa Gaibe Pr Eng, Ariana Salas Castillo, Zonke Gavrilov and Rasheed Azeez, Ph.D, MNIM, ACIPM REGISTER VIA LINK! https://lnkd.in/dHTNbfiw

The gig economy is reshaping the world of work, but women in South Asia remain vastly underrepresented. How can we change that? Join us for an empowering webinar, 'Shifting Gears to Unlock Equality: Empowering Women in the Gig Economy', hosted by Safetipin and Women Mobilize Women on, 📅 29th November 2024 ⏰ 3:00-4:30 PM IST. We’ll dive into key findings from the study "Women Behind the Wheel: Gender in On-Demand Transport-Based Gig Work in South Asia" and explore actionable strategies to create safer, more inclusive work environments for women in the gig economy. Our speakers include: - Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Zomato - Genesia Rodrigues, Manager (Public Policy), Namma Yatri - Prakash Gupta, Lead, Centre for Inclusive Mobility, OMI Foundation - Aditi Surie, Lead, Technology & Society Research,Indian Institute for Human Settlements - Wasel Shadat, Economist & Asst. Professor, Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka - Soujanya Sridharan, Researcher, Aapti Institute Get valuable insights from experts across South Asia working to drive gender equity in gig work. Don’t miss out! 📢 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gGxaTFnM #WomenInGigEconomy #GenderEquity #InclusiveWorkspaces #SouthAsia #EmpoweringWomen #Safetipin #WomenMobilizeWomen #GIZ #GigWork #RegisterNow Kalpana Viswanath Keisha Alena Mayuga Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative Uber OLA Foundation Rapido YesMadam Urban Company inDrive Careem Tata Trusts Tata Steel Foundation South Asia Women Foundation India Azad Foundation India SBI Foundation Gates Foundation India USAID UN Women Asia and the Pacific Swiggy foodpanda India Blinkit Zepto Womennovator ( Global Incubator for Women) Womanity American India Foundation

🌍 🏙️ 🌱 Are you interested in transport planning and governance for sustainable development in SSA cities? Then we hope to see you 27 November! Register and join the third and last event in VREF:s mini series "Celebrating 5 years of research results on Mobility and Access in African Cities! 👉 REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/deuz2JAx 👈 With keynote speaker Alphonse Nkurunziza, presenters Dr. Gladys Moraa.M. Nyachieo, Liza Cirolia and Wilma Nchito, and discussants Dr. Catherine Gateri, Margot Rubin and Méli Vivien