Bicycling

Buehler, R., Pucher, J. 2012. “Cycling to Work in 90 Large American Cities: New Evidence on the Role of Bike Paths and Lanes,” Transportation, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 409-432.

Pucher, J., Buehler, R., Seinen, M. 2011 “Bicycling Renaissance in North America? An Update and Re-Assessment of Cycling Trends and Policies,” Transportation Research A, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 451-475.

Active Travel and Public Health

Buehler, R., Pucher, R., Merom, D., Bauman, A. 2011. “Active Travel in Germany and the USA: Contributions of Daily Walking and Cycling to Physical Activity,” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol. 40, No. 9, September, pp. 241-250. Abstract.

Pucher, J., Buehler, R., Merom, D., Baumann, A. 2011. “Walking and Cycling in the United States, 2001-2009: Evidence from the National Household Travel Surveys,” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 101, No. 10, No. S1, pp. S310-S317.

Pucher, J., Buehler, R., Bassett, D., Dannenberg, A. 2010. "Walking and Cycling to Health: Recent Evidence from City, State, and International Comparisons," American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 100, No. 10, pp. 1986-1992. (Related Virginia Tech press release here).

Pucher, J., Buehler, R. 2010. “Walking and Cycling for Healthy Cities,” Built Environment, Vol. 36, No. 4.

Bassett, D., Pucher, J., Buehler, R., Thompson, D., Crouter, S. 2008. “Walking, Cycling, and Obesity Rates in Europe, North America and Australia,” Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 795-814.

and shortened and updated reprint:

Bassett, D., Pucher, J., Buehler, R., Thompson, D., Crouter, S. 2011. "Active Transportation and Obesity in Europe, North America, and Australia," ITE Journal, Vol. 81, No. 8, pp. 24-28.

German Language Journals

Buehler, R., Pucher, J. 2010. “Finanzielle Nachhaltigkeit des öffentlichen Personennahverkehrs: Entwicklungen und Herausforderungen in Deutschland und den USA,” Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung, Vol. 79, No. 2, pp. 127–138.

Buehler, R., Kunert, U. 2010. “Determinanten und Perspektiven des Verkehrsverhaltens in Deutschland und den USA,” Internationales Verkehrswesen, Vol. 62, No. 6.

Buehler, R., Kunert, U. 2010. “Trends im Verkehrsverhalten in den USA und in Deutschland,” Internationales Verkehrswesen, Vol. 61, No. 1+2.

Dissertation

Buehler, R. 2008. “Transport Policies, Travel Behavior, and Sustainability: A Comparison of Germany and the U.S.” Doctoral Dissertation; E.J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University; honored with the “Barclay Gibbs Jones Award for Best Dissertation in Planning 2008” by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

Book Chapters and Encyclopedia Entries

Buehler, R. 2010. "Traffic Calming," In: Robbins, P. (ed.) SAGE Reference Series on Green Society. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Buehler, R. 2010. "Transportation," In: Dutch, I.E. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Global Warming. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, pp. 993-994.

Pucher, J., Buehler, R. 2005. “Transport Policy in Post-Communist Europe,” In: Hensher, D., A. and Button, D. J. (eds.), Handbooks in Transportation. London: Elsevier, 2005, pp. 725-743.

Book Reviews

Buehler, R. 2011. “Sustainable Transportation—Problems and Solutions,” Book Review, In: Journal of Planning Education and Research. Vol. 31, No. 4, pp 471-473.

Buehler, R. accepted. “Transport for Suburbia – Beyond the Automobile Age,” Book Review, In: Canadian Journal of Urban Research. Forthcoming 2011.

Buehler, R. 2006. “Making Urban Transportation Sustainable,” Book Review, In: Journal of the American Planning Association. Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 370-371.

Other Publications

Buehler, R., Keeley, M., Jungjohann, A., and M. Mehling. 2011. How Germany Became Europe’s Green Leader: A Look at Four Decades of Sustainable Policymaking. The Solutions Journal, Vol. 2, No.5.

Buehler, R. 2010. "Lance Armstong and I/Lance Armstong und ich," Automotive Agenda, Special Volume on "Cities and the Automobile/Stadt und Auto," Vol. 3, No. 8, p.86, Springer Automotive Media.

Buehler, R. 2010. “Viewpoint: How can the stigma of public transport as the ‘poor man’s vehicle’ be overcome to enhance sustainability and climate change mitigation?” Natural Resources Forum-A United Nations Sustainable Development Journal, Vol. 34, No. 4, 2010, p. 327.

Buehler, R., Pucher, J., Kunert, U. 2010. “Making Transportation Sustainable: Insights from Germany,” Planung Neu Denken, Vol. 5, No.2, 2010, (official reprint of Brookings Institution Report listed above).

Buehler, R., Lovrien, N. 2008. “Using National Travel Data in State Energy Master Planning: Gaps and Opportunities in National Transportation Data,” (peer-reviewed conference proceedings). Transportation Research Board annual meeting, Washington, D.C.

Buehler, R. “Urban Development in Mega-Cities in Developing Countries,” KOPS Master Thesis, Konstanz, 2003.

Published Letters to the Editor

Buehler, R. 2010. "Response to: Where Bikes Rule," Public Management (PM) Magazine, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Press, Vol.92 (8).

Buehler, R. 2009. “Mixed-use Works Well in Downtown,” Badische Zeitung, Germany.

Buehler, R., Pucher, J., Kunert, U. 2008. “Can We Find a New Way to Get Home?” published letter to the editor responding to Paul Krugman’s column “Stranded in Suburbia,” New York Times.

Select Conference Presentations

Buehler, R. 2012. Determinants of Bicycle Commuting in Washington, DC. 2012 Annual Meeting Association of American Geographers, New York City, NY. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Buck, D., Buehler, R. 2012. Bike Lanes and Other Determinants of Capital Bikeshare Trips. 91^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed paper).

Buehler, R., Pucher, J., Merom, D., Baumann, A. 2011. Active Travel in Germany and the USA: Contributions of Daily Walking and Cycling to Physical Activity. Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference 2010, Minneapolis, MN. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Buehler, R., Pucher, J. 2011. Sustainable Urban Transport in Germany. Jean Monnet Research Workshop. Rutgers Center for European Studies. New Brunswick, NJ.

Buehler, R., Pucher, J. 2011. Impacts of Bike Paths and Lanes on Cycling in Large American Cities.  90^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed paper).

Pucher, J., Buehler, R., Merom, D., Baumann, A. 2011. Walking and Cycling in the United States, 2001-2009: Evidence from the National Household Travel Surveys.   90^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed paper).

Kuhnimhof, T., Buehler, R., Dargay, J. 2011. A New Generation: Travel Trends among Young Germans and Britons.  90^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed paper).

Sonenklar, D., Buehler, R. 2011. Determinants of Cycling in Washington, D.C. 90^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

Buehler, R. 2010. Forty Years of Planning for Livable Communities: Lessons from Freiburg, Germany.  Poster at TRB/USDOT Transportation Systems for Livable Communities Conference, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Buehler, R., Kuhnimhof, T. 2010. Emancipation from the Automobile? New Travel Trends of Young Germans. 2010 Annual Meeting Association of American Geographers, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Buehler, R., Nobis, C. 2010. Determinants of Travel Behavior in Ageing Societies: A Comparison of Germany and the U.S.  89^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed paper).

Buehler, R., Pucher, J. 2009. Making Public Transport Financially Sustainable American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference, Chrystal City, VA. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Buehler, R. 2009. Determinants of Automobile Use in Germany and the USA.  1^st Transatlantic Network on European Communications and Transport Activities Research (NECTAR) Conference. Arlington, Virginia, USA, (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Buehler, R. 2009. Promoting Public Transportation: A Comparison of Transit Passengers and Policies in Germany and the U.S. 88^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed paper).

Buehler, R. 2008. Towards More Sustainable Transportation: Do Policies Matter? American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference, Chicago, IL. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Buehler, R., Lovrien, N. 2008. Using National Travel Data in State Energy Master Planning: Gaps and Opportunities in National Transportation Data. 88^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (based on peer-reviewed paper).

Buehler, R. 2007. Spatial Development Patterns, Land Use, and Travel Behavior in Germany and the U.S. Urban Affairs Association, 37th Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Schmidt, S., Buehler, R. 2006. Land Use Planning in Germany and the U.S. American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference, Fort Worth, TX. (based on peer-reviewed abstract), 2006 (with S. Schmidt)

Buehler, R., Pucher, J. 2005. Cycling Trends and Policies in American and Canadian Cities. American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference, Kansas City, MO. (based on peer-reviewed abstract).

Select Presentations at Universities and Colleges

Buehler, R. 2011. Trends and Determinants of Cycling: The Role of Cycling Infrastructure. Invited guest lecture for studio course at Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture,  University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

Buehler, R. 2011. Urban Transport in Germany: Lessons for the USA. Invited guest lecture for the graduate level course "Transatlantic Learning: Lessons from European Energy & Environmental Policy" at Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC.

Buehler, R. 2011. Making Urban Transport Sustainable: Insights from Germany.  Invited talk for2nd TEMPO Conference on Sustainable Transport: Policy Change for Sustainable Transport. CIENS Forum, Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research, January 31st – February 1st 2011, Oslo, Norway

Buehler, R. 2010. Cycling to Sustainability: Lessons from Europe and North America.  Invited talk at Catholic University, Washington, D.C.

Buehler, R. 2010. Travel Behavior Transport Systems and Sustainability.  Invited talk at Geography Department, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN.

Buehler, R. 2010. Transport Policies and Sustainable Transport in Germany. Invited talk at Urban Affairs and Planning Speakers Series, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.

Buehler, R. 2010. Public Transportation that Works: Insights from Germany. Invited talk at the Rutgers Climate Change Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.

Buehler, R. 2009. Trends and Determinants of Travel Behavior: A Comparison of Germany and the USA. Invited talk at George Washington University, Department of Geography Lecture Series, October 2009.

Select Presentations for Local and National Governments

Buehler, R. 2009. Sustainable Modes of Transportation: A Comparison of Germany and the USA. Invited webinar for Federal Highway Administration.  Office of Natural and Human Environment. 

Buehler, R. 2009. Making Transportation Sustainable: Insights from Germany. Transatlantic Perspectives on Travel Behavior and Sustainable Urban Transportation reception; co-hosted by the German Embassy, the Brookings Institution, and the Transatlantic Climate Bridge. German Embassy, Washington, D.C.

Buehler, R. 2007. Trends and Determinants of Travel Behavior in Germany and the USA.  Given for the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Bonn and Berlin (video-conference), 2007 (with U. Kunert)

Select Presentations for Non-Governmental Organizations

Buehler, R. 2012. Sustainable Transportation: Lessons from Germany. American Planning Association, Washington, D.C. (“Tuesdays at APA”).

Buck, D. and Buehler, R. 2011. Bike Share, Bikeways, and Bicycling in the Washington, D.C. Region. Invited presentation at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's Regional Call to Action Summit, Arlington, VA.

Buehler, R. 2010. Road Safety and Age-Friendly Environments: Lessons from Germany. Invited talk at AARP International Affordability and Safety of Livable Communities, Lessons from Around the World Conference, Washington, D.C., June 2010.

Buehler, R. 2010. Promoting the Green Modes of Transport: Lessons from Germany. Invited talk at Goethe-Institut & Heinrich-Boell Foundation Green Living Speaker Series: Smart Mobility for the 21^st Century, Washington, D.C.

Buehler, R. 2009. Policy Changes for Sustainable Urban Transport: Lessons from Europe. Invited presentation at Bike Summit. Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation. Toronto, Canada.

Buehler, R. 2009. Sustainable Transport that Works: A Comparison of Public Transport in North America and Germany. Invited presentation at AMERICANA, International Environmental Sustainability Conference, Montreal, Canada.

Buehler, R. 2008. Making Cycling Irresistible: Lessons from Europe. Invited presentation at Bike Walk Twin Cities & Transit for Livable Communities (TLC), Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, December 2008

Transportation

Transportation Systems Planning: Sustainable Transportation, spring 2009-2012

Transportation Policy and Planning, fall 2008-2011

Public Transportation in the United States (independent studies), fall 2008, 2010, 2011

Bike Sharing in the Washington, DC Area (studio class), fall 2011 (link to class website; link to final report)

Methods

Advanced Research Methods, fall 2009

Quantitative Techniques in Planning, spring 2010-2012

Infrastructure and Urban Development

Urban Infrastructure, spring 2009

Arlington County: A Best Practice Case in Urban Regeneration (one credit module class for German and American Students; co-taught with Heike Mayer), fall 2008

Courses with International Comparative Focus

Chair for MURP capstone projects (descriptive project title in parenthesis)

• Monica Andrews (Fort Meade Transportation and Smart Growth)
• David Arnold (Parking on Columbia Pike)
• Jill Chen (Small Transit Agencies and Sustainability)
• Kate Dykgraaf (Active Transport and Public Health)
• Jeff Herman (Wayfinding for Cyclists in Fairfax County, VA)
• Rex Hodgson (Bike Sharing for Blacksburg)
• Ted Jutras (Rail and Economic Development in Los Angeles)
• William Long (TOD in Gary, NC)
• Elizabeth Rodgers (CUE Bus: Analysis of Ridership Factors)
• Jeremy Sewall (Travel Behavior for the Trip to Religious Activities)
• Katya Shkolnikova (Strengths and Weaknesses of the EU Rail Baltica Project)
• Andrew Smith (Local Transportation Sales Taxes)
• Girija Umashankar (Land Use and Transit Demand in Fairfax County)

Committee member for MURP capstone projects (descriptive project title in parenthesis)

• Adam Kelly (TOD’s Potential in the Sun Belt)
• Jane Kim (Development of a Neighborhood Plan for Bluemont, Arlington, VA)
• Garrison Kitt (Development Vision for Falls Church, VA)
• Lindsay Martin (Foodways in New Orleans)
• Courtney McCall (Historic Preservation in Falls Church)
• Nancy Moorman (TOD in Blacksburg, VA)
• Ryan Price (TOD and Property Tax in Washington, D.C.)
• Laura Rydland (Trends in TOD)
• Drew Shapiro (Car Sharing in San Francisco)
• Julie Still (Expanding the National Safe Routes to School Program)
• Kate Youngbluth (TOD and the Columbia Pike Streetcar)

Committee member/examiner for final projects in other colleges

• Andrea Hamre (Agricultural Economics) (Final Exam)
• Peter Kauffman (CEE) (Thesis: Characteristics of Moving Walkways)
• Jefferson King (CEE) (Final exam)
• Elizabeth Moreton (CEE) (Exam & thesis: International Comparison of Rail Systems)
• Devin Rouse (CEE) (Final exam)
• Danielle Wesolek (CEE) (Final exam)

Ralph's research, outreach, and teaching seek to advance the understanding of determinants of individual travel behavior and the sustainability of transport systems. The goal is to identify and share policy lessons on how to achieve a more environmentally sound, economically efficient, and socially equitable urban transport system. Leveraging a comparative analysis framework, my research effectively contrasts travel behavior, socioeconomic factors, land use, transport policies, and the sustainability of transport systems at city, regional, and national scales in North America and Western Europe. Couched in solid theoretical frameworks and including national and international best practices, my work helps inform policy makers and contributes to the development of students in the field of planning.

Ralph's research has been funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, The Brookings Institution, the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC), the Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center (MAUTC), IFMO, INFAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Alliance for Biking and Walking. He has received fellowships from the ENO Foundation, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

A native of Germany, he has gained research and work experience in his home country, the UK, France, and the USA. Ralph holds a PhD in Planning and Public Policy and a Masters of City and Regional Studies from Rutgers University, as well as a Masters in Politics and Management from the University of Konstanz, Germany. His dissertation “Transport Policies, Travel Behavior, and Sustainability: A Comparison of Germany and the U.S.” was honored with the “Barclay Gibbs Jones Award for Best Dissertation in Planning 2008” by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

Institut fuer Angewandte Sozialwissenschaft (INFAS), State and Future Potential of Electric Mobility in Western Europe, North America, and Asia. My role: Co-PI for USA, 2011. (link)

Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center (MAUTC), Analysis of Determinants of Bicycle Use in the Washington Metropolitan Area. My role: PI, 2010-2011. (link)

IFMO/BMW, Analysis of trends in young people’s mobility patterns in the United States, as part of an international research team studying trends in nine countries. My role: CO-PI for USA. 2010. (link to report in German)

Alliance for Biking and Walking, Benchmarking Cycling and Walking in the USA. My role: Research Consultant 2008-

Virginia Tech Institute for Society Culture and Environment, Proposal Revision Support for “Metropolitan Climate Change Policies: Comparative analysis and policy exchange between Europe and the United States“ (with S. Hirt, J. Randolph, G. Reichard). My role: CO-PI for research on transport policy and planning in Germany. Summer 2010. 

U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development. Livable Communities Initiative. “Strategies to Increase Affordable Housing near Transit.”(with Casey Dawkins). My role: CO-PI on Virginia Tech part of the project.

University Transportation Research Center II, Rutgers University, Virginia Tech, CO-PI, Analysis of Bicycling Trends and Policies in Large American Cities, CO-PI, 2009-2010.

Thunderhead Alliance, Research Consultant, 2006-2007, Consulting and data analysis for a project connecting walking and cycling to public health in U.S. cities and States; funded by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

German Institute of Economic Research, (DIW), CO-PI, 2006-2008, Analyzing and explaining differences and similarities in travel behavior in Germany and the U.S.

Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University, Research Assistant, 2003-2006