Changing youth mobility practices: a
transformative pathway?
Debbie Hopkins¹, John Williams² & Sandra Mandic³
¹ Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago
² Department of Marketing, University of Otago
³ School of Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago
GLOBAL TRENDS Youth Mobility
Global youth mobility trends
• Declining youth licensing rates (average 0.6%/year)
• Decreasing kilometres travelled
• Decreasing rates of car ownership.
Changing demographic characteristics
Licensed drivers as a percentage of their age-group population in the USA and Norway
Source: Sivak & Schoettle (2011) http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/86680/102764.pdf?sequence=4
USA NORWAY
Why is this important?
• Sustainable mobility: sustainable, equitable and efficient transport system
Multiple co-benefits:
• Contribution to GHG emissions
• Health concerns/ obesity
• Safety/ traffic accidents
• Social equity & inclusion/exclusion
NEW ZEALAND - NATIONAL Youth Mobility:
New Zealand (national) licensing
Source: New Zealand Household Travel Survey
New Zealand (national) licensing
Source: New Zealand Household Travel Survey
National data – VKT
Kilometres travelled per person per year, 2003–2012 Source: http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7431
NEW ZEALAND - REGIONAL Youth Mobility:
Regional VKT data
(all ages) - Auckland
Source: http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7431
Regional VKT data
(all ages) - Otago
Source: http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7431
Regional VKT data
(all ages) - Southland
Source: http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7431
DRIVERS OF YOUTH MOBILITY PRACTICES
Youth Mobility
Explanations for changing youth mobility practices:
• Increasing use of ICT and social networking as travel substitution
• The Global Financial Crisis and youth unemployment
• Shifting perceptions of private car ownership/ willingness to use alternative modes
• Environmental concerns
• Changing ‘rite of passage’ events – from driving to the OE?
Internet use/ access
Source: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/information_technology_and_communications/HouseholdUseofICT_HOTP2012.aspx
Internet use/ access
Source: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/information_technology_and_communications/HouseholdUseofICT_HOTP2012.aspx
Reasons for getting driver’s licence
Factors deemed to be very important:
• ‘Freedom to go where you wish’
• ‘To drive to or from a job’
Factors deemed to be important:
• ‘To go out with mates’
• ‘To help parents’
• ‘For ID’
Source: Begg et al. (2009) The opinion of newly licensed drivers in New Zealand on the minimum car driver licensing age and reasons for getting a licence, The New Zealand Medical Journal Vol 122: 1306
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS Youth Mobility
Built Environment & Active Transport to School (BEATS) research
collaboration
2013 Pilot Study:
Online student survey: n=160 adolescents (age: 15.3 ± 1.5; 49.5% male) from 4 high schools in Dunedin
Themes included:
• Attitudes to driving and licensing
• Mobile phone and internet use
• Importance and value of mobile phones
www.otago.ac.nz/BEATS
ICT & driving demographics
Importance of internet & cars
Attitudes about cars and driving [1]
Attitudes about cars and driving [2]
Attitudes to ICT & cars Attitudes are (mostly) unrelated to being old enough to drive
* = students with driver’s licenses were more likely to agree
A transformative pathway? • Averages can hide important sub-group variation,
and opportunities for change
• Understanding changing youth mobility practices could provide a transformative pathway towards a more sustainable, efficient and equitable transport system
• We need a greater understanding of changes and ways to facilitate and support youth travel demands
• Next steps include: a full survey of Dunedin high school students and interviews with 18-25 year olds in Dunedin, Auckland and Telford.
Changing youth mobility practices: a transformative pathway?
Thank you