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
Availability
- Dr Richard Buning is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Florida
Research interests
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Works
Search Professor Richard Buning’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Mountain bike tourism economic impacts: A critical analysis of academic and practitioner studies
Buning, Richard J. and Lamont, Matthew (2020). Mountain bike tourism economic impacts: A critical analysis of academic and practitioner studies. Tourism Economics, 27 (3) 1354816620901955, 135481662090195-509. doi: 10.1177/1354816620901955
2020
Conference Publication
In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories
Middleton, S., Wallin, A., Peters, M., Kriz, A., Eckberg, S. and Buning, R. (2020). In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories. Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society., Christchurch, New Zealand, 30 January-2 February 2020.
2019
Conference Publication
In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories
Middleton, S., Wallin, A., Peters, M., Kriz, A., Eckberg, S. and Buning, R. (2019). In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories. Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management, Cairns, QLD Australia, 3-6 December 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Ending the production line? How learning university history can influence different thinking about business school academic careers.
Middleton, S., Wallin, A., Peters, M., Eckberg, S., Kriz, A. and Buning, R. (2019). Ending the production line? How learning university history can influence different thinking about business school academic careers.. Academy of Management Learning and Education Organization Studies Paper Development Workshop., Brisbane, QLD Australia, 9 November 2019.
2019
Journal Article
A case study of the US mountain bike tourism market
Buning, Richard J., Cole, Zachary and Lamont, Matthew (2019). A case study of the US mountain bike tourism market. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 25 (4), 515-527. doi: 10.1177/1356766719842321
2019
Other Outputs
Youth outdoor recreation in Queensland: barriers and activators
Buning, Richard J., Pegg, Shane and Oren, Olivier (2019). Youth outdoor recreation in Queensland: barriers and activators. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Other Outputs
2018 Urban Climb member report
Buning, Richard J., Oren, Olivier and Kulczycki, Cory (2019). 2018 Urban Climb member report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2018
Journal Article
Sport tourism development
Buning, Richard J. (2018). Sport tourism development. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 23 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2018.1548814
2018
Journal Article
Adventure tourism motivation and destination loyalty: a comparison of decision and non-decision makers
Sato, Shintaro, Kim, Hany, Buning, Richard J. and Harada, Munehiko (2018). Adventure tourism motivation and destination loyalty: a comparison of decision and non-decision makers. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 8, 74-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.12.003
2018
Journal Article
Introduction to the special issue active sport tourism
Gibson, Heather J., Lamont, Matthew, Kennelly, Millicent and Buning, Richard J. (2018). Introduction to the special issue active sport tourism. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 22 (2), 83-91. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2018.1466350
2018
Book Chapter
Cycling: a path to physical activity through transportation, sport and leisure
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2018). Cycling: a path to physical activity through transportation, sport and leisure. Routledge handbook of physical activity policy and practice. (pp. 451-463) edited by Joe Piggin, Louise Mansfield and Mike Weed. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315672779-32
2018
Book Chapter
The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2018). The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management. Sport Tourism and Sustainable Destinations. (pp. 13-32) edited by B. D. Moyle, T. D. Hinch and J. E. S. Higham. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
2017
Book Chapter
Cycling: A path to physical activity through transportation, sport and leisure
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2017). Cycling: A path to physical activity through transportation, sport and leisure. Routledge Handbook of Physical Activity Policy and Practice. (pp. 452-463) Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781315672779
2017
Journal Article
Participation versus nonparticipation in a charity running event
Mirehie, Mona, Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2017). Participation versus nonparticipation in a charity running event. Event Management, 21 (6), 639-652. doi: 10.3727/152599517X15073047237188
2017
Book Chapter
Small scale active sport tourism is international business
Buning, Richard J. and Krohn, Brian D. (2017). Small scale active sport tourism is international business. Routledge handbook of international sport business. (pp. 333-345) edited by Mark Dodds, Kevin Heisey and Aila Ahonen. London: Routledge.
2016
Journal Article
The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2016). The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 20 (3-4), 175-193. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2016.1155474
2016
Journal Article
Exploring the trajectory of active-sport-event travel careers: a social worlds perspective
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2016). Exploring the trajectory of active-sport-event travel careers: a social worlds perspective. Journal of Sport Management, 30 (3), 265-281. doi: 10.1123/jsm.2015-0213
2016
Journal Article
Visitor expenditure within a mountain bike event portfolio: determinants, outcomes, and variations
Buning, Richard J., Cole, Zachary D. and McNamee, Jeff B. (2016). Visitor expenditure within a mountain bike event portfolio: determinants, outcomes, and variations. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 20 (2), 103-122. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2016.1239547
2016
Journal Article
Differentiating mass participant sport event consumers: traditional versus non-traditional events
Buning, Richard J. and Walker, Matthew (2016). Differentiating mass participant sport event consumers: traditional versus non-traditional events. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 25 (1), 47-58. doi: 10.1177/106169341602500106
2015
Journal Article
The evolution of active-sport-event travel careers
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather (2015). The evolution of active-sport-event travel careers. Journal of Sport Management, 29 (5), 555-569. doi: 10.1123/jsm.2014-0215
Funding
Past funding
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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