Barriers to Teenage Mobility in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada: Attitudes, Concerns, and Policy Implications

Conventional approaches to the management of transportation demand have had limited success in reducing automobile dependency. As a result, it has become increasingly important to understand the decision-making processes involved in determining travel behavior. To develop a more complete picture of travel behavior, research should consider diverse groups of travelers with various mobility abilities and needs. Research on urban form and travel behavior was extended beyond adult travel by examining teen travelers of 13 to 19 years of age in the greater Toronto area, Ontario, Canada. The issue was probed through the collection of quantitative and qualitative travel data from first-year students at the University of Toronto. The survey explored attitudes toward different modes in relation to the locational attributes of the respondent's hometown neighborhood. The narratives of the survey participants illustrate that the final travel choice is determined by the presence of supportive infrastructure that not only facilitates active mode choices but also shapes the perceptions and attitudes that teens form as a result of daily travel experiences. Findings underscore the importance of providing genuine choices that meet the needs of teens and other travelers with limited mobility.