Advanced Urban Mobility

We study emerging transportation systems—including microtransit, micromobility, electrification, ridesourcing, public transit, and autonomous vehicles—and their effects on travel behavior, accessibility, and urban development. We also use AI-driven methods to evaluate the performance and resilience of mobility systems under climate hazards.

A man in a suit happily rides an electric scooter along a riverside path on a sunny day, with one foot pushing off the ground and buildings and trees in the background.

What We Do

We study emerging mobility systems and technologies, including public transit, microtransit, micromobility, ridesourcing, electrification, and autonomous vehicles. Our research examines their effects on travel behavior, accessibility, transportation system performance, urban development, and resilience.

What We Aim to Achieve

We aim to develop evidence, analytical methods, and planning tools that help communities and transportation agencies better understand and evaluate emerging mobility options. Our goal is to support transportation systems that are more accessible, resilient, efficient, and responsive to changing mobility needs.

Featured Research

A woman in a blue dress stands outdoors, looking at her phone next to a Direct Connect sign for a rideshare connecting stop, showing logos for Uber, Lyft, and others. Cars and a fence are visible in the background.

Evaluating the connection between transit and TNCs (Transportation Network Companies) in Pinellas County for statewide application

A white and blue Chevrolet electric car with Complimentary Rides and city branding is parked on a city street next to other vehicles.

Evaluating the effectiveness and funding mechanism of the Downtowner service in Tampa, Florida for statewide application

A small, white and green autonomous shuttle labeled beep drives on a paved road, surrounded by trees and greenery on a sunny day.

Examining Data Needs and Implementation Process of AV-based Microtransit Service: A Case Study in Lake Nona

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Selected Publications

Lu, K. F., Liu, Y., Peng, Z. R., & Zhai, W. (2026). Characterizing performance resilience of transportation networks against hurricane events. Applied Geography, 186, 103820.

Liu, Y., Lu, K., Peng, Z.-R., & Zhai, W. (2024). Autonomous shuttle acceptance in an American suburban context: A revealed preference study in Lake Nona, Florida. Travel Behaviour and Society, 37, 100865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbs.2024.100865

Lu, K. F., Liu, Y., & Peng, Z. R. (2025). Unraveling urban bike-sharing dynamics: Spatiotemporal imbalances in bike rentals and returns in Washington DC. Cities, 162, 105967.

Yu, H., & Peng, Z.-R. (2019). Exploring the spatial variation of ridesourcing demand and its relationship to built environment and socioeconomic factors with the geographically weighted Poisson regression. Journal of Transport Geography, 75, 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.01.004

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