Destination Accessibility of Higher Educational Institutions from Scarborough

Abstract

The ability to access destinations such as educational institutions through public transportation can greatly benefit an individual in many aspects of life. Commuter students can face mobility issues when attending an urban university, issues that are not limited to mobility but also affect students’ academic success. This study presents an investigation of the destination accessibility of higher educational institutions in Toronto from Scarborough. The research emphasizes lived experiences collected through semi-structured interviews with post-secondary students who attend York University, Toronto Metropolitan University or the University of Toronto. Student experiences were analyzed to answer the research question: How does existing public transit affect Scarborough residents’ access to university education? The research found that mobility in Scarborough encouraged commuter students to manage their time in order to balance academics, commuting, and other responsibilities such as part-time jobs. The study revealed students’ appreciation for public transportation’s ability to get them to campus, but also captured their challenges surrounding the commute itself, which made being a student or attending campus difficult. Issues such as delays, busy transit, safety concerns, poor student mobility programs and a lack of information regarding transit schedules can also affect students’ academic success. The research also put forward three recommendations that can help improve students’ destination accessibility in the short and long term. The study is relevant as good access to higher education can be associated with increased income and improved life satisfaction, but poor destination accessibility can hinder one’s access to opportunities. The study is especially relevant in the context of Scarborough for two reasons. First, several transportation projects for the area have been cancelled. Second, statistics show that the area has a lower percentage of residents who have achieved a post-secondary education degree compared to most of Toronto.