Richard Buning
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/20570 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/strategy-values/2032-games/our-experts/connecting-people-places
Dr
Richard Buning
Email: : r.buning@business.uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 334 68014
Positions
Senior Lecturer : School of Business : Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Overview
Background
Dr. Buning is a Senior Lecturer in the Tourism discipline at the UQ Business School and Research Lead of the UQ Micromobility Research Cluster. He is recognised as one of Australia’s leading voices on micromobility, e-mobility and global scholar for cycling tourism. His research focuses on active living, tourism systems, and destination development, with a particular attention to both residents and visitors.His research agenda examines how tourists and residents engage in physical activity both as a driver of tourism behaviour and community health (e.g., active lifestyle sports, sports club participation) and as a feature of destination mobility systems (e.g., active transport).
His work on active transport investigates how bikeshare, e-scooters, and micromobility more generally enable healthier, more active, and more sustainable communities for residents and visitors. This work directly informs public policy and industry strategy. His research on active lifestyle sports contributes to scholarship in active sport tourism, including mountain biking, cycling, running, rock climbing, and hiking. Research outcomes have contributed to improved economic performance, increased visitor dispersal, reduced congestion pressures, enhanced public health outcomes, and strengthened community wellbeing in destination contexts through sustainable transport and active tourism strategies.
Dr. Buning has worked extensively with active transport providers, sporting organisations, and state and local governments across Australia and the United States. He regularly consults on data-driven strategy development for active mobility systems, events, and community-based tourism initiatives. His work regularly appears in leading tourism, sport, and transport journals and popular press outlets around micromobility, active transport, sport tourism, and event management.
Are you a government, industry or an academic interested in collaborating on research or teaching projects to get people moving? Please get in touch
Research methods expertise includes:
- Survey research design and analysis
- Structural equation modelling
- Delphi studies
- Quantitative scale development
- In-depth interviews and focus groups
- Grounded theory
- Secondary data and meta-analysis
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Availability
Dr Richard Buning is: : Available for supervision : Media expert
Fields of research
Built Environment and Design Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services Commercial services Impacts of tourism Sport and leisure management Tourism Tourism management Tourist behaviour and visitor experience Transportation, logistics and supply chains Urban and regional planning
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Florida
Research interests
-
Micromobility
Micromobility (i.e., e-scooters, e-mobility) has disrupted transport globally, but we still don't yet know its true role and impacts to our communities. I'm working to fully understand how society can embrace micromobility safely to realize its benefit.
Read more Read less - #### Sport Tourism
Travel to particpate in sport is active sport tourism whether it be running, cycling, mountain biking, rock climbing, and more. This type of travel builds active vibrant communites locally and delivers rich and sustaible benefits to destinations that attract these tourists.
Read more Read less - #### e-scooters
E-scooters provide all kinds of benefits to communities for residents and tourists, but we need to better understand how they can be used safely, replace car transport, and improve urban mobility.
Read more Read less - #### Active Transport
When people walk and ride they have happier lives and communities flourish. Let’s work together to encourage active transportation and provide safe places for people to walk and ride more often.
Read more Read less - #### Event Management
Events bring people together and to destinations, I'm curious as how we can use events to attract those with active lifestyles as tourism and how we can help event attendees experience communities through active transport.
Read more Read less - #### Bikeshare
Bikeshare programs revloutionized how both residents get around cities, but moreso made it easier than ever before for tourists to use bikes to experince destinations.
Read more Read less - #### Physical Activity
Being active in modern life is a challenge. I want to help people be active in their daily transport needs and through tourism.
Read more Read less
View all research interests View less
Works
Search Professor Richard Buning’s works on UQ eSpace
All (58) Book (1) Journal Article (30) Other Outputs (19) Conference Publication (3) Book Chapter (5)
2026
Journal Article
Standardising bicycling infrastructure terminology: A Delphi study of Australian experts
Lieske, Scott N., Kong, Weichang, Buning, Richard J., Pojani, Dorina and Leao, Simone Z. (2026). Standardising bicycling infrastructure terminology: A Delphi study of Australian experts. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 23 101682, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cstp.2025.101682
Standardising bicycling infrastructure terminology: A Delphi study of Australian experts
2025
Journal Article
Clarifying bicycling accessibility
Lieske, Scott N., Zhang, Lihong, Leao, Simone Z., Pojani, Dorina and Buning, Richard J. (2025). Clarifying bicycling accessibility. Journal of Transport Geography, 129 104450, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104450
Clarifying bicycling accessibility
2025
Journal Article
An exploration of Likert scale development: measuring purpose, success, and constraints of American collegiate sport clubs
Czekanski, William A., Lower-Hoppe, Leeann M. and Buning, Richard J. (2025). An exploration of Likert scale development: measuring purpose, success, and constraints of American collegiate sport clubs. Managing Sport and Leisure, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/23750472.2025.2572332
2025
Other Outputs
E-bikes could slash our reliance on cars – but overpowered illegal models on the roads make us all less safe
Buning, Richard and Pojani, Dorina (2025, 08 18). E-bikes could slash our reliance on cars – but overpowered illegal models on the roads make us all less safe The Conversation doi: 10.64628/AA.95cj3kftg
2025
Other Outputs
Most e-scooter riders follow the rules—here’s what we found
Buning, Richard J., Lieske, Scott and Bean, Richard (2025, 08 13). Most e-scooter riders follow the rules—here’s what we found ZagDaily
Most e-scooter riders follow the rules—here’s what we found
2025
Journal Article
Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism
Buning, Richard J., Hardy, Anne, Corcoran, Jonathan, Pojani, Dorina, Zou, Zhenpeng and Chen, Milly (2025). Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 6 (1) 100164, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2024.100164
Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism
2025
Journal Article
Hybrid machine learning-based approaches for modeling bikeability
Zhang, Lihong, Lieske, Scott N., Pojani, Dorina, Buning, Richard J. and Corcoran, Jonathan (2025). Hybrid machine learning-based approaches for modeling bikeability. Journal of Transport Geography, 123 104150, 104150-123. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104150
Hybrid machine learning-based approaches for modeling bikeability
2025
Other Outputs
New study highlights member retention constraints, and strategies for overcoming them
Buning, Richard J. and Kulczycki, Cory (2025, 01 28). New study highlights member retention constraints, and strategies for overcoming them Climbing Business Journal
New study highlights member retention constraints, and strategies for overcoming them
2025
Journal Article
Competing Priorities and Constraint Negotiation in Event Travel Careers: Conceptual Advancement and Scale Development
Buning, Richard J and Kennelly, Millicent (2025). Competing Priorities and Constraint Negotiation in Event Travel Careers: Conceptual Advancement and Scale Development. Event Management. doi: 10.3727/152599525x17580191376180
2025
Journal Article
The role of external partners in shaping the organizational capacity of collegiate sport clubs: a Delphi study
Lower-Hoppe, Leeann M., Czekanski, W. Andrew, Buning, Richard J. and Springer, Daniel (2025). The role of external partners in shaping the organizational capacity of collegiate sport clubs: a Delphi study. European Sport Management Quarterly, 25 (4), 642-662. doi: 10.1080/16184742.2024.2412647
2025
Journal Article
Ascending past constraints through immersion into the social worlds of climbing gyms
Kulczycki, Cory and Buning, Richard J. (2025). Ascending past constraints through immersion into the social worlds of climbing gyms. Journal of Leisure Research, 56 (5), 737-759. doi: 10.1080/00222216.2024.2402313
Ascending past constraints through immersion into the social worlds of climbing gyms
2025
Journal Article
Rock climbing to new heights: Developing active sport tourism in Saudi Arabia
Buning, Richard J., Alessa, Faisal and Chen, Milly (2025). Rock climbing to new heights: Developing active sport tourism in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Sport Management, 26 (2), 193-221.
Rock climbing to new heights: Developing active sport tourism in Saudi Arabia
2024
Other Outputs
How to go mountain biking in 2024: How to escape reality and achieve the perfect ride
Buning, Richard J. (2024, 10 01). How to go mountain biking in 2024: How to escape reality and achieve the perfect ride Australian Mountain Bike Magazine
How to go mountain biking in 2024: How to escape reality and achieve the perfect ride
2024
Other Outputs
E-scooter movement data analysis; Exploring use of active transport facilities, travel speeds, helmet use, and scooter types
Scott Lieske, Buning, Richard, Pyrohova, Svitlana, Bean, Richard and Jindalucksawong, Purit (2024). E-scooter movement data analysis; Exploring use of active transport facilities, travel speeds, helmet use, and scooter types. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2024
Other Outputs
E-scooter riders flouting rules, blocking footpaths and causing accidents? We need to use smart solutions (and bust the myths)
Buning, Richard J., Haworth, Narelle and Lieske, Scott (2024, 09 19). E-scooter riders flouting rules, blocking footpaths and causing accidents? We need to use smart solutions (and bust the myths) The Conversation
2024
Other Outputs
The six reasons why Brisbane residents and visitors don’t ride e-scooters
Buning, Richard J. and Pham, Wendy (2024, 03 14). The six reasons why Brisbane residents and visitors don’t ride e-scooters Zag Daily
The six reasons why Brisbane residents and visitors don’t ride e-scooters
2024
Other Outputs
Flow state: Chasing mountain biking bliss
Buning, Richard J. (2024, 03 05). Flow state: Chasing mountain biking bliss Australian Mountain Bike Magazine 54-57.
Flow state: Chasing mountain biking bliss
2024
Book Chapter
Bidding for events through responding to requests for proposals
Buning, Richard J. (2024). Bidding for events through responding to requests for proposals. International case studies in event management. (pp. 149-153) edited by Judith Mair, Gürhan Aktaş and Metin Kozak. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781003390381-19
Bidding for events through responding to requests for proposals
2023
Journal Article
When flow meets business: A study of mountain biking
Hardy, Anne, Buning, Richard J., Boudreau, Patrick and Thomas, Jeffrey (2023). When flow meets business: A study of mountain biking. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 4 (2) 100102, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2023.100102
When flow meets business: A study of mountain biking
2023
Other Outputs
Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane
Buning, Richard (2023, 10 26). Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane Zag Daily
Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane
Funding
Past funding
- 2021 - 2023
Bikeability for transportation: tools and data for research and practice
Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network
Open grant - 2020 - 2025
Transport Innovation and Research Hub
Brisbane City Council
Open grant - 2019
Activators and Barriers to Youth Outdoor Recreation in Queensland
Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Incorporated
Supervision
Availability
Dr Richard Buning is: : Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Richard Buning directly for media enquiries about:
- Active Transport
- Bikeshare
- Cycling
- e-bikes
- e-scooters
- Event Management
- Micromobility
- Physical Activity
- Sport Management
- Sport Tourism
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