New Poster – “How do we get there?”: A Youth Participatory Evaluation of the City of London’s Mobility Master Plan
- Post by: Luis Patricio
- 12:55PM May 09, 2025
- No Comment
On May 20, 2025, members of the Youth Advisory Council will be presenting their work about the City of London’s Mobility Master Plan (MMP) at the Child Health Research Day 2025.
Why it matters
Quality transportation options provide access to education, healthcare, employment, socialization, physical activity, and green spaces. Young people have unique transportation needs, and when those needs are not met, it directly affects their health and overall well-being.
The research opportunity
From a mobility justice perspective, both resource distribution and decision-making must be equitable and inclusive. The MMP will guide transportation planning for the next 25 years. However, youth perspectives are often underrepresented in transportation policy development and decision-making. Youth in London report low awareness of, and engagement with the consultation process being used to develop the MMP. As a result, their needs may not have been fully considered in the MMP.
How we did it
To address this gap, the HEALYAC, in collaboration with HEAL students and faculty, undertook a participatory policy evaluation of the MMP. HEALYAC’s mandate is to integrate youth voices into research and civic processes, ensuring those processes and decisions reflect the needs of young people. In total, 21 youth were actively engaged in the project co-led by thirteen HEALYAC members (aged 13–19) from eleven high schools across four school boards assessed the MMP using a mobility justice framework.
What we found
The feedback was categorized into six key themes:
- youth engagement
- MMP principles
- road safety
- public transit
- environmental impacts
- cycling
How we shared the information
The feedback was compiled into a report that includes recommendations addressing youth needs.
Beside the usual submission to the MMP public consultation, we reached out to City staff and Councillors through email and the report was included and discussed in a public City Council meeting.
Policy Implications
This project has significant implications for mobility planning in Canadian cities. Youth identified critical gaps in the MMP, particularly regarding transit and cycling infrastructure. The findings highlight the need for greater youth inclusion in transportation planning, especially in decisions impacting their health and well-being.
Resources
MMP Feedback Report
CHRD2025 Poster