Canadian Rural Partnership
Research and Analysis

This is the second in a series of reports on research undertaken on rural transportation in Ontario, 1998 - 2001.

The second report is based on an examination of rural youth and their mobility problems. Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are almost invariably transportation-disadvantaged, especially those in rural locations outside of towns. Obtaining a sense of the dimensions of the problem is the main purpose of this scan. Using the voices of the rural youth themselves seems an obvious place to start, given the lack of research on this group in society. A report specifically on detailed community approaches to local transportation services will conclude this series

Report number one concerns rural community experience with the Community Transportation Action Program (CTAP), a provincial initiative to stimulate greater coordination of local transportation services. Report number three is a first look at rural roads and their future given the changes in municipal restructuring, and the "export" nature of the rural economy. Report number four is based on an examination of elderly and individuals with disabilities living in rural areas and their mobility problems. Information is drawn from the literature and from comparative studies.

At the small community level, rural transportation is almost entirely dependent upon the automobile. Apart from inter-city buses, there is no public transportation in small town Canada. We may assume that those with access to an automobile are able to get around. In this research, those without regular access to transportation are considered potentially to be "transportation disadvantaged." This includes the elderly, rural youth, and the mobility challenged.

Getting around in rural areas is essential for most people's needs. Mobility governs access to jobs and services as well as to social and recreational activities. To a large extent, the economy, as well as civil society, is dependent upon transportation of one kind or another. Therefore, the provision and maintenance of transportation infrastructure is of prime importance in rural areas and this includes roads, bridges and soft infrastructure such as regulation (insurance and policing). Transportation thus involves a complex set of interconnected parts and requires a good deal of planning and servicing to remain effective and efficient.

It is surprising therefore, that very little research attention has been paid to rural transportation issues in the 20 years preceding the end of the 20th century, at least in Ontario. This research series is designed as a scan of transportation conditions in rural areas of the province and is intended to provide information on some of the key issues and servicing problems facing governments, organizations and rural citizens.

This research was sponsored in large part, by the Rural Secretariat at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The fact that rural youths are a "vulnerable" group in regards to transportation and personal mobility was discovered through the SRC sponsored research on The Community Transportation Action Program (CTAP). The SRC program also supported this research on rural youth and their transportation problems. The research was undertaken in the field by Marni Herold and Kathy Kaye, graduates of the School of Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. As a scan of rural youth perspectives, this research is a start in understanding this issue and is a testimony to the hard work and commitment of those involved.

Tony Fuller
SRC Research Program Director
Guelph, January 2001

Between May and August 2000, a research study was conducted on youth transportation issues in rural Ontario. A series of nine focus groups were conducted in various small towns across the province. Additional information was gathered from a short survey, a literature review and website postings from youth on the Internet.

The literature revealed that there are several factors that affect the ability of young people to access transportation in rural areas. There is a high dependency on single occupant vehicles (SOV's) in rural areas and many young people do not have access to their own vehicle or the family vehicle, or they do not have their driver's license. In relation to this point, the Graduated License System (GLS) is a factor that limits rural youth more directly because of the restrictions in usage and the length of time required to obtain a full license. This is particularly harsh on rural youth. There is also the issue around the lack of public transportation, which in turn limits mobility for many rural citizens, including young people. This relates to the urban bias in the development of transportation services that frequently affects rural citizens in a negative way.

Nearly 80 rural youth participated in the nine focus groups that were held in rural areas throughout various regions of Ontario. These areas include: Bracebridge, Barry's Bay, Durham, Manitoulin Island (Sheguiandah), Paris, Strathroy, Tweed, Winchester, and Woolwich. The participants were all between the ages of 15 and 24 and this age group was chosen based on the United Nations definition of youth.

The focus group sessions were entitled "Let's Get Moving" and the design was based on the "Community Action Planning Kit" that was developed by Wayne Caldwell. The focus group method consisted of a series of four questions that led to discussions by the youth about their transportation needs and possible solutions. They discussed ideas both as a whole and in small working groups to identify and develop ideas on how to address their transportation needs.

Main findings from this research study came out of the "Let's Get Moving" focus group discussions. The four common transportation issues for rural youth are:

• The rural nature of transportation issues in terms of the distance that must be traveled in order to get to desired destinations
• Financial aspects/expense of transportation
• Access to rides
• Weather conditions

Typical weekly activities that require transportation for young people include social activities, friends and jobs, and the most common modes of transportation to get to these activities were driving, getting a ride or using a bicycle. Activities that were considered to present transportation challenges were getting to social activities, to visit friends and to attend sports/recreation events. Overall, the three main mobility challenges related to expensive prices for gas, lack of public transportation and not having access to a ride.

Youth solutions to mobility issues included implementing regular bus services, purchasing vehicles, easing the difficulties in obtaining a license, increasing car-pooling networks, adding more trails for cyclists, and increasing parent cooperation. When these issues were discussed further in small groups, the findings resulted in the following areas that could be considered further:

• Car-pooling/network of drivers/car coops
• Use already existing services (buses to special events/school buses)
• Form partnerships with organizations and businesses to increase access
• Improve bike safety standards and increase bike paths
• Modifications to the GLS in rural areas
• Increase the number of emergency pay phones

Therefore, young people in rural areas recognize that they have certain challenges with respect to transportation, and they have creative solutions to these challenges. The rural nature of transportation in itself can be a challenge, but for younger people, it can be especially trying. Many of the suggestions put forward by the youth participants could be implemented easily, or could build upon existing resources. Further attention is needed on this topic in order to address more accurately the issues that are facing the rural youth of today.

The full report is available in PDF format or by contacting:

Rural Research and Analysis Unit
Rural Secretariat, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
1341 Baseline Road, Tower 7, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C5
Tel.: 1-888-781-2222
Fax: 1-800-884-9899
E-mail: rs@agr.gc.ca

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