"No One Should Feel Like They're Unsafe": Mobility Justice Photovoice as a Youth Advocacy Tool for Equitable Community Mobility

Abstract

Mobility is an often overlooked social determinant of health that broadly affects people of color's health. This study aimed to examine personal and community mobility challenges and opportunities among youth of color and partner to advance equitable community mobility. We conducted a community-based participatory research photovoice study using mobility justice principles from November 2020 to May 2021 with 10 youth of color from South Seattle, Washington. We conducted thematic content analysis of verbatim transcripts. Youth recommended infrastructure changes and free transit to facilitate safe, accessible mobility. Youth reported feeling vulnerable riding public transit alongside people experiencing mental health issues, while recognizing the dangers police can bring to people with mental health challenges and/or communities of color. They emphasized the importance of youth voice and intergenerational community discussions to inform policy making. We coorganized an online forum with youth to exchange ideas for advancing equitable mobility with their community and city leaders. Youth expressed feeling empowered and deepening dedication to mobility justice. Leaders should implement policy and infrastructure changes to enhance equitable mobility by incorporating youth and mobility justice principles in decision-making processes, pay youth for their time, employ facilitators of color, and offer technology support.

Figure 1.

The 5 Ds of Mobility Justice for Youth. Adapted from the mobility justice conceptual framework model from People for Mobility Justice (https://www.peopleformobilityjustice.org/).

Figure 2.

(a) “... by the time I, like, don't want to play [soccer] anymore, it's already dark. And I usually go home by myself and at times I don't want to take the bus because of, like, COVID. I just walk home. But you know I'm alone in the dark walking, there's no one around, you know. I just feel unsafe.” (b) “... cars don't see pedestrians like young people like us ... they could get killed because, you know, drivers aren't paying attention sometimes. And I know, like, where I live ... when the lights are out, it is so dark, like, you literally can't even see any houses ....” (c) “I know there's, like, some drivers who, like, are behind you and they're, like, really close behind you ... for me that's, like, a lot of pressure. Like they're, like, pushing me to, like, to go faster.” (d) “... sometimes I noticed that ... [people appearing under the influence of substances] and stuff, like, go near the bus stop or, like, hang really close by, and it honestly puts a lot of people on edge.” (e) “... I feel like there's always a fear [around police], especially like for POC (people of color) that something ... could happen ....” (f) “... for our race as Hispanics, when we go to the store, if we speak our language, there's just people staring at us ... like a disgusting look ... it just feels very uncomfortable.”

Figure 3.

(a) “Well, I feel like the best way to define affordable would be free.” (b) “... the bus is, like, a public place. It's, like, for everybody and, like, people should feel safe ....” (c) “I noticed, like, some bus stops don't really have, like, benches or anywhere to sit ... or at least have covers since it's always raining here.”

Figure 4.

(a) “... I always see this special view and so I always have to take a picture of it ... it just brings some, like, happy vibe.” (b) “... one thing I really love about the transportation ... is that I get to see, like, amazing views like that.” (c) “... I play soccer, right. And it's just like ... I feel relieved. Every time I play, like, I put problems to the side. Just by playing soccer.”