Mobility Master Plan: a youth perspective

• Post by: Luis Patricio
• 6:00AM Feb 10, 2025
• No Comment

 The last HEAL Youth Advisory Council (YAC) meeting, held on Wednesday, January 22, was led by Luis Patricio, a HEAL YAC facilitator and PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Western Ontario. Luis has been working with urban mobility for more than two decades and he also teaches at Huron University.

The planning for the Mobility Master Plan (MMP) feedback meeting was co-created by HEAL staff and a youth co-facilitator from the HEAL YAC. In preparation for our in-person feedback session, youth were sent various links and videos from the City of London and the media on the MMP to review prior to the meeting.

The first half of the in-person session consisted of reviewing what mobility justice is and looks like, followed up by an overview of the MMP and its various components. The youth co-facilitator then guided their peers in a facilitated discussion from an intersectional youth perspective on what is currently working well in terms of mobility in the city of London and the MMP; what gaps exist; and what recommendations they have to improve things. Each recommendation was discussed to get a better understanding of the youth needs and capabilities that were being addressed.

To organize the discussions, each of the suggestions were categorized into the MMP “buckets” of the plan including, the principles of the plan or mobility issues (environmental sustainability, equity etc.); various transportation modes (cycling, transit, etc.); and the stages of the plan (engagement, governance etc.). From there, the HEAL staff compiled the feedback into this document and sent it to the HEALYAC for review and changes, revisions were made, and the final submission is included here. 

During the meeting, Luis delivered an insightful presentation on transport justice, emphasizing the need for equitable access to transportation resources for different demographics. He discussed the importance of distributive justice, which ensures fair allocation of resources, and procedural justice, which involves engaging communities in decision-making processes. Luis highlighted the unique transportation needs of various groups, such as low-income families, children, seniors, and people of colour. He stressed the importance of understanding these differences to create more inclusive public transportation systems. 

 Luis’ presentation also introduced the City of London’s Mobility Master Plan, outlining the municipal government’s ambitious goals to adapt to changing mobility needs and ensure that all Londoners have safe and effective transportation options by 2050. The plan aims to significantly decrease reliance on personal vehicles (London’s highest greenhouse gas emitter) and instead promote public transit and active transportation methods. The MMP is guided by five principles: 

• Environmentally sustainable: Take bold action to address climate change and design and move in ways that protect and enhance the natural environment. 

• Financially sustainable: Ensure mobility and its infrastructure is affordable for current and future generations. 

• Equitable: Recognize diverse mobility needs and embed equity into decision making to enable everyone to move through the city. 

• Healthy and safe: Promote and protect the physical, mental and social wellbeing of all and encourage active living. 

• Integrated, connected and efficient: Strengthen community and the economy with better access to people, places, goods and services as London grows. 

(City of London, Ontario, n.d.) 

After Luis’ presentation members of HEAL YAC had a round-table discussion on this latest municipal transportation initiative. Here, members expressed several concerns regarding the MMP, particularly its lack of details on implementing Vision Zero principles aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Members noted that the MMP does not sufficiently address the needs of vulnerable populations, such as seniors and individuals that are differently abled, nor does it adequately focus on the design of roadways that encourage safe mobility for all users, including cyclists, pedestrians, or those with assisted mobility vehicles. There was also a concern that the proposed initiatives might not effectively address the existing transportation burdens that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, like accessibility, affordability, safety, and pollution. 

To improve the MMP, the HEAL YAC suggested incorporating clear strategies for engaging youth in the decision-making process, particularly those from underrepresented groups. They recommended explicitly integrating Vision Zero principles into the MMP to emphasize road safety and design changes that accommodate all forms of mobility and prioritize active transportation. Additionally, the HEAL YAC members proposed enhancing public transportation infrastructure and creating incentives, such as free fare and training for teenagers, to encourage the usage of public transit.

The official feedback was submitted to the City of London on January 31, 2025. 

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The purpose of the HEAL Youth Advisory Council (HEALYAC) is to integrate youth voices, perspectives, and expertise into research on young people’s health and wellbeing and provide opportunities to participate in meaningful engagement on community issues, like the City of London’s Mobility Master Plan.