Dr Richard Buning
Senior Lecturer
School of Business
+61 7 334 68014
Room 449, General Purpose North 3 (39A), St. Lucia Campus
Researcher biography
Dr. Buning is a Senior Lecturer within the tourism discipline in the UQ Business School and the research lead for the UQ Micromobility Research Cluster. His research interests reside at the intersection of physical activity, travel, and events. Within this area, his research agenda is focused on how tourists are physically active as both a driver of tourism behaviour (i.e., active lifestyle sports) and during visitation (i.e., active transport). His research works on active lifestyle sports closely mirrors his passions in active sport tourism for mountain biking, cycling, running, rock climbing, hiking, and more. His work crosses over to active transport through bikeshare, e-scooters, and more generally micromobility where he is focused on tourism usage and related impacts.
The outcome of his work enables communities, events, and organizations to efficiently market to and attract visitors, encourage physical activity generally, and improve the related impact to destinations as a form of sustainable tourism. Prior to academia, Dr. Buning worked in the running event industry managing race logistics and continues to work with physical activity focused organizations, events, and communities as a consultant in developing data driven business strategy.
His research methodology speciality is in mixed methods tailored to the research question using both quantitative methods (i.e., survey research, secondary data) and qualitative methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups. ). Often his work is interdisciplinary in collaboration with scholars from geography, urban planning, and transport engineering using a wide range of data sources,
Dr. Buning is regularly featured in the media, serves as an expert to government, and publishes on the topics of active transport, sport tourism, and event management.
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
Interested in working on research, teaching, or consulting projects? Please get in touch!
Publications
Book Chapters
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
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.
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
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
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.
Journal Articles
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
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
Lower-Hoppe, Leeann M., Czekanski, W. Andrew, Buning, Richard J. and Springer, Daniel (2024). The role of external partners in shaping the organizational capacity of collegiate sport clubs: a Delphi study. European Sport Management Quarterly. doi: 10.1080/16184742.2024.2412647
Kulczycki, Cory and Buning, Richard J. (2024). Ascending past constraints through immersion into the social worlds of climbing gyms. Journal of Leisure Research. doi: 10.1080/00222216.2024.2402313
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
Lower-Hoppe, Leeann M., Talcott, Ali, Cioletti, Alina, Springer, Daniel, Czekanski, W. Andrew and Buning, Richard J. (2023). What makes collegiate sport club programs successful? Exploration of how success is measured and perceived. Recreational Sports Journal, 47 (2), 148-158. doi: 10.1177/15588661231203969
Derom, Inge and Buning, Richard J. (2022). The development of new social worlds through obstacle course racing. Leisure Sciences, 47 (4), 1-20. doi: 10.1080/01490400.2022.2154292
Rundio, Amy and Buning, Richard (2022). Collegiate sport club service delivery: moving between motivations and constraints to beneficial outcomes. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 40 (2), 2-18. doi: 10.18666/jpra-2021-11046
Filo, Kevin, Kennelly, Millicent, Buning, Richard J. and Sobh, Rana (2022). Well-being and running events in Qatar: The Ooredoo Doha Marathon. Event Management, 26 (1), 73-87. doi: 10.3727/152599521X16192004803629
Mirehie, Mona, Gibson, Heather J., Buning, Richard J., Coble, Cassandra and Flaherty, Meredith (2021). Towards an understanding of family travel decision-making processes in the context of youth sport tourism. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 21 100644, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100644
Rundio, Amy and Buning, Richard J. (2021). Initiation and introduction into sport participation: new member experiences with collegiate sport clubs. Recreational Sports Journal, 45 (2), 155886612110164-93. doi: 10.1177/15588661211016432
Buning, Richard J. and Lulla, Vijay (2021). Visitor bikeshare usage: tracking visitor spatiotemporal behavior using big data. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29 (4), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2020.1825456
Aicher, Thomas J., Buning, Richard J. and Newland, Brianna L. (2020). Running through travel career progression: social worlds and active sport tourism. Journal of Sport Management, 34 (6), 542-553. doi: 10.1123/jsm.2019-0256
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
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
Buning, Richard J. (2018). Sport tourism development. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 23 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2018.1548814
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Buning, Richard J., Coble, Cassie and Kerwin, Shannon (2015). The progressive involvement of youth in niche sport: the perspective of youth participants and their parents. Journal of Amateur Sport, 1 (1), 52-80. doi: 10.17161/jas.v1i1.4921
Conference Papers
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.
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.
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.
Newspaper Articles
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
Buning, Richard J. and Pham, Wendy (2024, 03 14). The six reasons why Brisbane residents and visitors don’t ride e-scooters Zag Daily
Buning, Richard J. (2024, 03 05). Flow state: Chasing mountain biking bliss Australian Mountain Bike Magazine 54-57.
Buning, Richard (2023, 10 26). Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane Zag Daily
Buning, Richard J. and Pham, Wendy (2023, 09 11). Five years on, Brisbane’s e-scooters and e-bikes are winning over tourists and residents as they open up the city The Conversation
Buning, Richard, Corcoran, Jonathan, Rahbar, Maisie, McKercher, Bob, Pojani, Dorina, Sigler, Thomas, Zou, Frank and Hardy, Anne (2023, 01 25). Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport Contact Magazine
Buning, Richard and Coble, Cassandra (2022, 01 19). Why massive new youth sports facilities may not lead to the tourist boom many communities hope for when they build them. The Conversation
Buning, Richard (2021, 11 12). Mountain biking gives this Tasmanian town a sustainable future.Logging does not. The Conversation
Research Reports
Buning, Richard J., Pham, Wendy and Chen, Milly (2023). So, what do you think about eScooters and eBikes?: Understanding visitor and resident experiences and perceptions with micromobility in Brisbane. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: The University of Queensland, Business School.
Buning, Richard and Chen, Milly (2022). 2022 Urban Climb staff survey report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Buning, Richard and Chen, Milly (2022). 2022 Urban Climb member study. IBrisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Buning, Richard J., Pegg, Shane and Oren, Olivier (2019). Youth outdoor recreation in Queensland: barriers and activators. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Buning, Richard J., Oren, Olivier and Kulczycki, Cory (2019). 2018 Urban Climb member report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.