The hidden wickedness of shrinking public transport options
Across many rapidly growing Asian cities, mobility is shifting from public systems to private, app-based services.
What at first appears as convenience and flexibility reveals a more fragmented reality where environmental, social and economic issues are closely interconnected. What, for instance, happens to the drivers of Kolkata’s ubiquitous yellow taxis and to the business owners who serve them as private ride-sharing apps take their trade? What happens to the cars themselves? Who gained the most from the banning of trams in the city of Kolkata in 2025?
The decline of public transportation options turns mobility into a broader urban challenge. It increases environmental pressure, reduces affordability, and limits access for those who cannot pay for private services.
Making mobility not just a system of movement, but a growing, wicked urban problem.
