Meeting Young People’s Mobility and Transport Needs: Review and Prospect

Abstract

This paper reviews published and grey literature on young people’s daily transport and mobility experiences and potential, with the aim of identifying major research gaps. It draws on literature across a range of disciplines where interest in mobilities has expanded significantly over the last decade (transport studies; social sciences, notably geography and anthropology; health sciences). We focus particularly on young people from poorer households, since poverty and mobility intersect and interact in complex ways and this needs closer attention. Although youth transport issues are set in their global context, the focus on poverty encourages particular attention to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially countries in Africa and Asia. Key themes include education, employment, travel safety and the role of mobile technology. This review demonstrates how young people’s travel experiences, needs and risks are embedded in power relations and vary with gender, age and location. It also points to the scale and range of uncertainties that so many young people now face globally as they negotiate daily mobility (or immobility). Significant research gaps are identified, including the need for more in-depth action research involving young people themselves (especially in Asia), and greater attention to the impact of mobile technologies on travel practices.

The Influencing Mechanism of the Communities’ Built Environment on Residents’ Subjective Well-Being: A Case Study of Beijing

“…This resonance could be due to younger individuals' openness and adaptability to new concepts in living environments that prioritize sustainability, technology integration, and flexible spaces-features that are increasingly emphasized in modern urban planning. This inclination towards new urban designs might also be bolstered by younger individuals' greater propensity for embracing change, allowing them to more readily appreciate and find satisfaction in innovative urban landscapes that differ from traditional setups [83,84].…”

Youth on the move

“…Including the voice of the youth in transport policies and planning is, therefore, pertinent to ensure equitable representation. It is equally important to consider youth needs in the formulation of transport policies, as the everyday mobility experiences of young people are unique and diverse, shaped by age, gender, location, socio-economic and cultural background, and growing environmental fragility (Porter and Turner, 2019). The diversity of the youth is more than what meets the eye and is further explained in Box 3.…”

“…For example, in Africa, children from low-income households may start accompanying parents from an early age on long expeditions to support livelihood activities and counter poverty. In terms of career building, the availability, reliability and cost of transport shape young people's access to employment across the world (Porter and Turner, 2019). Access to broader mobility options can play a role in youth career development by providing opportunities to gain work experience, even when work is available at a distance.…”

“…Walking, cycling and using informal transportation services are typically the main mobility modes for young people in low-and middle-income countries. In urban and rural areas of such countries, the constraints of public transport (formal and informal) fare costs or simply the unavailability contribute to the heavy dependence on pedestrian travel (Porter and Turner, 2019). Modes of paratransit, like the minibus taxis in South Africa, are also commonly used by young people in their everyday commutes (Porter et al, 2017).…”

Achieving Transportation Equity: How Can We Support Young People’s Autonomy and Health in a Rapidly Changing Society?

“…These changes highlight the need to consider how transportation policies like graduated driver licensure regulations may need to adapt to changing transportation norms and infrastructures. For example, consis-tently under-researched areas include young people's experiences with and preferences for transportation systems in Low and Middle-Income Countries [15]. Although youth in some communities benefit from improved infrastructures, others may be cloistered in under-resourced areas without a fit-for-purpose transportation infrastructure.…”