Mobility Network at the University of Toronto

Mobility Network is a network of mobility researchers from across University of Toronto, committed to seeing that in this “First Urban Century,” mobility must enable all people to achieve their potential while protecting our planet.

A view looking down the "Puente De Luz" bridge designed by Francisco Gazitua; there is a cyclist on the left and numerous pedestrians; condos in the background

About Mobility Network

Mobility Network is a network of partners, in the community, in industry, and in government, who will collaborate to find mobility solutions that serve people’s well-being, the planet’s future, and the potential of our growing cities to flourish equitably, sustainably and productively.

We will be asking the questions, sharing our knowledge, learning from our partners, considering the issues from diverse perspectives, hosting the conversations and finding the way to address the global challenge for cities to evolve into more sustainable, equitable, and resilient urban forms and mobility systems.

Please join us on the journey.

See Mobility Network’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan

News

Brail, Vinodrai talk about mobility data at UTM Data Digest event

January 31, 2023

Mobility Network researchers at TRB 2023

January 25, 2023

Brendon Hemily recognized by TRB Public Transportation Group for distinguished service

January 19, 2023

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Events

Emerging Mobility Scholars Conference
June 22 to June 23
Dr. Jinhua Zhao presents "Behaviour and computation: What defines the future of urban mobility?"
March 27. 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm EDT
Mobility Network Postdoctoral Community of Practice
March 15. 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm EDT

View more events

Knowledge Clusters

Mobility Network embraces “radical interdisciplinarity” that leverages the scale, scope, and strengths of a multidisciplinary, collaborative network of researchers across U of T’s campuses.

Overlapping Knowledge Clusters span the range of factors critical to mobility while collaboration among researchers will unify our mission.

Mobility Network will build a broad, strong, engaged network of U of T researchers, organized in overlapping Knowledge Clusters that address global challenges in a time of disruptive change.

Governance, Policy Analysis & Managing Change

We continue to “prepare for growth” but now in the face of disruption. Disruptions may be temporary (e.g., COVID-19) or permanent (e.g., climate crisis, autonomous cars). The policy response to COVID-19 demonstrated that our governments are capable of swift action. For public safety, they temporarily increased cycling infrastructure, introduced roadside patio restaurants and bars, and legislated off-peak deliveries to grocery stores. Many of these emergency innovations are being made permanent. What are the challenges and opportunities associated with planning for change, as well as responding to disruption? How can we safely enable more experimentation that may lead to further beneficial innovation in our cities?

Learn more about Governance, Policy Analysis & Managing Change→

Behavioural Analysis & Modelling

People make the decisions about how they will travel, based on the choices available to them and on their very personal perception of the “costs” of travelling by different modes. Effective planning and design of both transportation and land use requires a deep understanding of person travel behaviour, the economic drivers of goods movements and the location choice processes of households and firms. How can we combine insights into travel behaviour from economics, psychology and engineering, modern “big data” and advanced data science methods (machine learning, etc.) enable the development of advanced “next generation” simulation models of urban spatial-temporal, socio-economic processes?

Learn more about Behavioural Analysis & Modelling→

Land Use Planning & Economy

The transportation system provides access to land, which determines land value, which informs land development decisions that create the choices that influence the location decisions of households and firms. Where we live depends on where housing was built for us and how willing and able we are to travel – over the transportation system provided to us – from there to where we work, study, shop, and socialize. How can we evolve our existing transportation systems and land use into more sustainable forms? How can we influence the adoption of an integrated “system of systems” approach to land use and transportation?

Learn more about Land Use Planning & Economy→

Freight & Urban Goods Movement

The movement of goods is as critical to the equity, sustainability and productivity of society as is personal mobility, but it often receives much less research and policy attention. COVID-19 restrictions highlighted our dependency on national, continental and international supply chains to keep our society and our economy functioning. How do we reduce the carbon footprint of freight movements, as well as their impacts on communities and roadway operations, while maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of our supply chains? How do we ensure the resiliency of the logistics systems that support urban goods movement? How do we accommodate, regulate and adapt to e-commerce?

Learn more about Freight & Urban Goods Movement→

Mobility Technologies & Services

It is well known that “the costs of congestion” threaten thriving urban regions and cities. Congestion is a symptom of a thriving urban region but also of tremendous inefficiencies. Innovation in transportation technologies and mobility services (autonomous and/or electric vehicles, e-bicycles, ride hailing and ridesharing services and platforms, real-time information services, etc.) is rapidly moving to implementation on our public rights of way. How can we best design our transportation systems integrating both “old” and “new” technologies to provide for the safe, efficient, and dignified movement of people and goods within rapidly changing technological, social and economic contexts?

Learn more about Mobility Technologies & Services→

Climate Change & Health

Automobiles and associated urban sprawl have played major roles in the climate crisis; transportation is the second-largest producer of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. How can the co-benefits of GHG reduction strategies, particularly in terms of air quality and health benefits, be quantified to inform efforts to address climate change? How can we induce the combined changes in travel behaviour, political and social norms and transportation technology needed to effect meaningful reduction on Canadian GHG emissions?

Learn more about Climate Change & Health→

Urban Equality & Inclusion

The existing transportation system has resulted in an inequitable distribution of opportunities for people to access affordable housing, employment, education and other opportunities. What are the causes, scale and impacts […]

Learn more about Urban Equality & Inclusion→