The National Survey on Transport Poverty

Mobilizing Justice, under the Activity 1 Working Group led by Professor Catherine Morency (Polytechnique de MontrĂ©al) and Ms. Howaida Hassan (City of Edmonton), has launched the first national survey designed specifically to understand transport poverty in Canada. Unlike traditional travel surveys that focus on the trips people do take, this survey also captures the trips people want to take but can’t—due to financial, time-based, physical, or systemic barriers. With responses from over 27,000 people across 41 census metropolitan areas and rural areas in every province and territory, the survey provides an unprecedented look at the everyday transportation challenges Canadians face, especially among equity-deserving groups whose experiences are often overlooked. 

The survey includes several modules that go beyond conventional travel behavior data. Respondents were asked about their home and household circumstances, transportation options and barriers, usual places visited, personal travel habits, and attitudes toward transportation systems in their communities, in addition to detailed socio-demographic data.

The dataset is now available for researchers, policymakers, planners, community organizations, and the public to explore and use. It provides a unique window into how transportation systems shape daily life, access to opportunities, activity participation, and social inclusion, among other things, across the country. We invite you to use this data to advance transportation equity in your own work—whether that is in planning, advocacy, academic research, or policymaking.

Understanding The National Survey

What is this survey?

A large-scale national survey which aims to understand transport poverty and transportation related social exclusion in Canada.

Who is the survey for?

The survey is for researchers, governments, and organizations who are trying to understand and fix transportation issues in Canada especially for people who face challenges like low income, disability, or being new to the country.

Who was surveyed?

Over 27,000 respondents, including approximately 20,000 low-income households, were surveyed from various regions across Canada. The responds included individuals from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

What was asked?

The survey asked participants about their transportation options, challenges, and experiences, questions were also focused on barriers to transportation, travel satisfaction, mobility needs, affordability, and housing location decisions.

How were people surveyed?

The survey was designed by a team led by Prof. Catherine Morency at Polytechnique Montréal, where the survey server resides. The survey company recruited participants using available panels and additional recruitment techniques by sending participants to the web-based survey housed at the Polytechnique Montréal.

Metadata

This document includes detailed information on the survey design, sampling strategy, and data collection. Click HERE to access.

Accessing the Public Version of the Data:

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Mobilizing Justice Practitioners and Academic Partners:

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