At a time when many societies perceive young people to be intruders and a threat in public spaces, there is a need to understand the impact of exclusionary practices on young people's experiences of urban life. This article draws on data from a three year research study currently being conducted in Australia on young people's experiences of growing up in urban environments, the Growing Up in Cities project. It looks at factors young people themselves identify as affecting their use of public space in their local neighbourhood. The article focuses on four issues that young people in the study have indicated marginalise them, and at times, exclude them from public spaces: physical form of the neighbourhood; commercialisation of youth spaces; restricted mobility; and personal safety, dangers and fears.