Pictured Above: Priority and accessible seats in a Toronto subway car. Priority seating for those with visible and invisible disabilities are distinguished with blue seat padding. Photo by Patrick Yutiga, 2020.

Authors: Jordan Aharoni, Ron Buliung, & Raktim Mitra


Students with disabilities have largely been left out of travel behaviour research. We examined differences in student reported transport mode share, and perceptions about commuting impacts on education, between students with and without mobility impairment(s). Data are taken from the 2019 StudentMoveTO survey of university and college student travel in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Students with mobility impairment(s) reported greater use of modified vehicles and shared modes, particularly with other household members. Students with mobility impairment(s) were also more likely to report that commuting discourages them from coming to campus and limits their academic success.