Teen travel in the Greater Toronto Area: A descriptive analysis of trends from 1986 to 2006 and the policy implications

This paper extends research on urban form and travel behavior beyond adult travel by examining teen travelers aged 13–19 in the Greater Toronto Area. Data from the Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) survey are used to study four main research questions: (1) How has teen mode choice changed from 1986 to 2006? (2) How do these choices vary as teens transition from the 13–15 age group to being of driving age (16–19)? (3) How do these choices vary across the different urban and suburban regions of the GTA? (4) What are some of the differences between teen travel and adult travel? Results show that in general, active transportation has decreased, while auto-passenger mode shares have increased across the region. The younger group walks more and the older group takes transit more for both school and discretionary travel. Jurisdictions with better transit supply and orientation have higher transit mode shares for school trips, but discretionary trips have very low transit mode shares. Walk mode shares for both school and discretionary travel are similar across all jurisdictions, regardless of whether they are urban or suburban. In contrast to adult travel in the GTA, built form characteristics and transit supply do not appear to have a direct relationship with teen mode choice. Urban form appears to exert an indirect influence on teen travel.

► A descriptive analysis of teen travel behavior in the Greater Toronto Area between 1986 and 2006.
► Active transportation has decreased and auto-passenger mode shares have increased across region.
► Auto-use is most pronounced for discretionary trip making.
► Walk mode shares do not vary across urban and suburban jurisdictions.
► Urban form appears to exert an indirect influence on teen travel trends.