In many Canadian households, it was an unspoken rule: turning 16 often meant heading to the nearest DriveTest centre to get your G1.

For generations, getting a driver’s license was seen as a rite of passage, a symbol of independence and adulthood. But one driving instructor told the Toronto Observer he thinks the tradition is changing.

“Driving used to be a big thing, like a stepping [stone] to being an adult. Now, it’s just the way things are and people don’t see it in the same way,” said Saad Malik, an instructor for Legacy Driving School in Richmond Hill, Ont.

“They’d rather save their money for rent or groceries, I’d rather do that to be honest. A car just feels like an extra expense most people can’t afford,” said Malik.

For Spencer Salvador, a 20-year-old university student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, said the cost of driving was a factor in his decision not to get a licence.

“It wasn’t a priority for me the second my parents told me I had to pay my insurance the second I got my licence,” said Salvador. “I’ve been able to get by without it.”

Not only have insurance premiums and gas prices risen sharply in recent years, but the upfront cost of a vehicle can easily exceed a student’s or entry-level worker’s budget. Alongside finances, different regions also come into play.

“In cities, it’s worse,” Malik said. “Everything is more expensive … insurance, gas, and parking. People in the city can use buses or trains, so they don’t really need a car.”

In big cities like Toronto, investments in bike lanes, public transit, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure are being framed not just as environmental or safety efforts, but as ways to keep up with a changing cultural landscape.

Salvador said he uses both transit and cycling to move around.

“On the days I do go to school, I’m taking the TTC. Is it reliable? Yes, it’s pretty reliable, but I’m waiting like 10 to 15 minutes for a bus. It’s not that serious because I can plan accordingly. Another way I get around is by biking, I like to go on bike rides a lot.”

But although Salvador can navigate most of his life without driving, there are some aspects to life in Canada he feels he doesn’t have access to.

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes on that represents Canadian pride,” he said. “Part of me still feels like I’m left out when it comes to stuff like that.

“There’s so much rich culture that can be accessed through driving, even just going on a road trip to Banff or Vancouver … you get to see so many other things that Canada’s all about.”

This story is part of the Toronto Observer’s Our Canada feature package. Check out more stories and videos.