Cities in Motion Lab
Researching global urban mobility, access, and infrastructure
About the Lab
We provide global insights and data on urban transportation and accessibility. We help cities worldwide compare their performance with peer cities and improve policies based on best practice.
The fast, the slow, and the congested
Average traffic speeds in Dhaka, Bangladesh are more than three times slower than in Flint, Michigan. Our research shows that cities with the slowest traffic share two broad features with Dhaka: they have large populations, and they are located in poor countries. Contrary to popular belief, congestion is not the main issue. Even at 3am with fewer cars on the road, Dhaka experiences slow traffic. Recognizing that traffic slowness isn’t mostly due to congestion has important policy implications.
Explore our research
Mobility and Congestion in Urban India
Published
What are the determinants of urban travel speed in a developing country?
The Fast, the Slow, and the Congested: Urban Transportation in Rich and Poor Countries
Working Paper
How do travel speed and congestion vary in cities across the world? Why is urban travel so much faster in richer countries?
Accessibility, City Size, and Economic Development
Work in Progress
What are the determinants of urban accessibility? Are some developing cities too large?
Remote Work and Urban Transportation
Work in Progress
How did the rise in remote work affect travel speed and congestion around the world?
