StudentMoveTO survey to assess transit needs of university students

subway car

It is believed that the vitality and success of the universities in the Toronto area depends on the ability of students to reach campuses in a timely and effective way so that they can take full advantage of campus life, the amenities offered by universities and meet the demands of postsecondary education.

To better understand the transportation needs of students in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), a survey will be conducted over the next 64 days. Students from York University, OCAD University, the University of Toronto and Ryerson University will be randomly selected to take the survey known as StudentMoveTO.

Students will receive an email from the president of their respective school containing a message and link to the survey. The emails will be sent out to students starting Sept. 28.

The survey is important because student transportation needs are not always effectively considered in the decisions that guide transportation policy, which is partly due to the lack of representative data. The web-based survey will for the first time yield systematic insights into postsecondary student travel behaviour and needs across the GTHA. Aggregated data will be made available to researchers, students, professionals and public, which will support evidence-based decision making in this region, and can be used by anyone to stimulate further discussion and engagement around this very important issue.

StudentMoveTO is an initiative by the presidents of York University, OCAD University, the University of Toronto and Ryerson University.