A faculty research team led by Dr. Alexander Bigazzi, Associate Professor in UBC’s Department of Civil Engineering, has been awarded a Wall Research Award on the project Human-centered design for sustainable transportation in British Columbia: An inclusive approach to infrastructure design based on diverse experiences of walking and cycling. This initiative focuses on creating transportation infrastructure that equitably attracts users to sustainable travel modes such as walking and cycling while enhancing user experiences. The project aligns with BC’s ambitious goals to reduce driving by 25% and increase sustainable travel modes to 30% by 2030.
“This project addresses a critical gap in transportation planning by focusing on the individual experiences of diverse users,” Dr. Bigazzi explains. “We aim to develop infrastructure design guidance that makes sustainable travel more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, especially those who have been historically underserved.”
The interdisciplinary research team includes Dr. Kelly Clifton from the School of Community and Regional Planning, Dr. Todd Handy from the Department of Psychology, and Dr. Eli Puterman from the School of Kinesiology. Together, they bring expertise in urban planning, neuroscience, kinesiology, and civil engineering. Dr. Bigazzi highlights the strength of their collaboration: “Our team comes from very different backgrounds, but we’re united by a shared interest in solving real-world problems. It’s exciting to work together and see how our expertise complements each other.”
The research builds on earlier work by Dr. Bigazzi and Dr. Puterman, who collaborated to explore how physiological biomarkers such as heart rate variability can measure stress responses during active travel. “We’re using these tools to understand how individuals respond to urban environments,” Dr. Bigazzi notes. “For instance, people cycling react to threats from motor vehicles different ways, and we want to develop design solutions that enhance comfort and safety for a large share of the population.”
Dr. Bigazzi also emphasizes the importance of inclusivity: “Traditional transportation systems often cater to a ‘design user’ that does not represent significant portions of the population. We’re focusing on creating designs that work better for everyone, including underrepresented groups like women, who often cycle at lower rates due to safety concerns.”
Although the project is focused on British Columbia, its findings are expected to have broader implications for sustainable transportation design worldwide. “We want to develop a research framework that other regions can adapt, even with different cultural and infrastructural contexts,” says Dr. Bigazzi.