Independent Mobility Among Teenagers: Exploration of Travel to After-School Activities

The degree of independent pursuit of travel and activities by teenage populations is examined. Specifically, the kinds of after-school trips that teenagers make, the degree of independence in their travel, and the characteristics of those teenagers who are granted greater license to travel independently are explored. The research design uses data from the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey to investigate these questions. In particular, the first trip made directly after school is examined to evaluate the degree of independence in travel. The results demonstrate that as teenagers age they gain independence in their daily travels. However, this independence comes with increased reliance on the automobile. Younger teenagers are using alternative modes at a much higher rate than older teenagers, if only for the trip home from school, but they appear to abandon walking and transit use as soon as the automobile becomes an option.