Changing Global Narratives and Perceptions of Two- and Three-wheelers

There are at least half a billion motorized two- and three-wheelers (2&3W) in the world today. A growing portion of this global fleet has gone electric and are estimated to already be displacing nearly a million barrels of oil a day.

Vehicles such as tuk-tuks, motorcycles, and scooters are vital to transportation in many cities and towns across the Global South. They offer affordable, accessible, and efficient transport options for millions, especially lower-income households.  These vehicles:

• Provide crucial transportation in areas with limited public transport

• Help people reach essential services like healthcare, education, and markets

• Offer livelihood opportunities and support families

• Are currently cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and reducing local air pollution through electrification

However, media coverage often focuses on negative aspects of these transportation modes. A recent media scan, developed by students at Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford in partnership with the Global Network for Popular Transportation (GNPT), showed that 42% of stories about two- and three-wheelers in the media highlight crime, safety issues, and regulatory challenges, while only 38% are positive, and 20% are neutral. These narratives affect popular perceptions and perpetuate the understanding that these modes of transport are unsafe and unsustainable, ignoring their vital contributions to mobility, local economies and even sustainability

Through this project, GNPT aims to promote a more informed view of the essential role that two-and three-wheelers play in cities and towns around the world, acknowledging their importance in daily life, transport accessibility, economic development, and transport decarbonization.

Here are five explainers on topics that we consider are important to tell different, and more representative stories about the role that two- and three-wheelers have around the world: