Background In India, where over half the population comprises youth, ensuring unrestricted and safe mobility is crucial. Access to this fundamental right is important for enabling adolescents to participate in urban life fully, access educational opportunities, and improve their overall well-being.

Objective To identify and document the mobility challenges of school-going adolescents during their daily commute between home to/from school in Delhi.

Methods This qualitative study was conducted in two Delhi-based public schools and adopted the novel, visual, participatory methodology of PhotoVoice. Eight school-going adolescents were purposively selected, ensuring diversity in terms of gender, age, and commuting patterns. The participants underwent training in basic photography skills and were provided with disposable cameras for one week. Once the photographs were developed, two focus group discussions were held with the participants while they discussed the significance of each photograph concerning student mobility and safety. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results Participants found the PhotoVoice methodology to be an enjoyable and empowering experience, providing them with a creative platform to express their thoughts and feelings. Three key themes were identified through preliminary analysis. The first theme, ‘Structural and physical environment’ highlights infrastructural barriers such as poor road conditions, missing sidewalks, and congestion outside schools. The second theme of ‘Safe passage for all’ delves into participant fear around female sexual violence, poor lighting, and speeding vehicles. Lastly, the third theme of ‘Environmental health and wellbeing’ underscores challenges such as garbage on the roads, unpleasant odors from nearby stream, and noise and air pollution.

Conclusion The findings highlight the multifaceted challenges that must be addressed to foster inclusive environments prioritizing youth well-being and safety. Additionally, the study illustrates the efficacy of visual research methods in depicting the gravity of these challenges, thereby strengthening efforts for advocacy. Recommendations include prioritization of investments in infrastructure, enhancement of safety measures, and mitigation of environmental hazards to ensure equitable access to education and mobility. By incorporating the voices and experiences of adolescents into policy and planning processes, cities can be made more accessible, safe, and conducive to equitable urban development.