Transit-to-Parks: Evaluating public transit connections to regional parks and greenways

Introduction to Transit to Parks Initiatives. Video by Yiyang Wang.

Sponsor/funding program: SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant, Utah Transit Authority (UTA), UBC Hampton Grant, UBC Sustainability Scholars Program

Period: 2021-ongoing

Research team: Keunhyun Park (Principal Investigator on UBC grants), Alessandro Rigolon (the University of Utah, Principal Investigator on the UTA grant), Yiyang Wang (Ph.D. student), Paul Liu (Research Assistant), Tony Jiang (Research Assistant), Daniella Jialu Zhang, Xiaofan Shen (Research Assistant)

Collaborators: Metro Vancouver, TransLink, Utah Transit Authority

Publications
- Park, K., Rigolon, A., Choi, D., Lyons, T., & Brewer, S. (2021) Transit to parks: An environmental justice study of transit access to large parks in the U.S. West. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 60:127055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127055 [download]
- Wang, Y., Rigolon, A., & Park, K. (2024). Transit to parks initiatives in the U.S. and Canada: Practitioners’ perspectives, Transport Policy 154: 84-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.06.007 [download] [link to the project page]

Project reports
- Link to an interactive web map of Transit-to-Parks initiatives in Canada and the U.S.
- Rigolon, A., Park, K., Choi, D., Benson, J., Wang, Y., & Liu, P. (2022) Evaluating and Promoting Transit Connections to Regional Open Spaces in Utah, Utah Transit Authority [download]
- Wang, Y. (2023) Metro Vancouver Regional Park Visitor Travel Study: Research to Understand Factors Influencing Travel Mode Decisions to Access Regional Parks, UBC Sustainability Scholars [download]

Figures 1, 2, and 3. Yiyang Wang and Tony Jiang surveyed park visitors in Belcarra Regional Park for Metro Vancouver Regional Park Visitor Travel Study (2023). Photo credits: Craig Sobering.

Presentations (lab members in bold)
- Wang, Y. & Park, K. (2024). “Enhancing Equitable Access to Urban Parks: A Survey in Six Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.” Canadian Urban Forest Conference (Winnipeg, MB) (accepted)
- Jiang, X.T., Wang, Y. & Park, K. (2024). “Evaluating Transit-to-Parks Initiatives in British Columbia and Alberta: Unveiling the Need for Systemic Plan and Legislation Support.” UBC Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC) (Vancouver, BC)
- Wang, Y. & Park, K. Equitable park access: Advancing sustainable transportation for urban nature in Metro Vancouver, 1^st Urban Science and Sustainability (USS) Conference (Xiamen, China)
- Wang, Y., Liu, P., & Park, K. (2022). “Elevating Access to Regional Open Spaces: An Exploration of the Transit-to-Parks Initiatives in Canada and the U.S.,” 2022 Virtual IASNR (International Association for Society & Natural Resources) Conference
- Liu, P., Wang, Y., & Park, K. (2022). “Improving Mobility and Elevating Access: A Case Study of Seniors Recreational Bus Trip Programs in Metro Vancouver,” 2022 Virtual IASNR (International Association for Society & Natural Resources) Conference
- Rigolon, A., Benson, J., Park, K., & Choi, D. (2022). “Riding transit to parks and trails: Opportunities, barriers, and implications for transit agencies,” ACSP 62^nd Annual Conference (Toronto, ON)
- Park, K., Choi, D., Rigolon, A., Lyons, T. & Brewer, S. (2022). “Transit to forests: An environmental justice study of public transit access to large public forests in the U.S. West,” XV World Forestry Congress (Seoul, South Korea).
- Park, K., Choi, D., Rigolon, A., & Lyons, T. (2020). “Transit to large parks: Exploring spatial distribution of transit accessibility to large parks,” ACSP 60^th Annual Conference (virtual).