Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Robbie is an industrial designer, whose aim is to make sustainable transport the easiest choice to make. He pursues this goal by designing innovative vehicles and transport systems, studying a cross section of the built environment including bicycles, buses, the road rules, and how people use mobility systems. Robbie's research outputs span practice and theory, from innovative vehicles and parking, to novel studies on the transition to sustainable modes of transport. He has created novel ways of studying bicycle use and guiding industry through the transition to renewables. Robbie is an active member of the US National Academy of Science’s Transportation Research Board: Bus Transit Systems and an Associate of Monash University's Public Transport Research Group. He rides all kinds of bicycles.
Education/Academic qualification
Higher Education, Graduate Certificate, MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 26 Apr 2012
Industrial Design, PhD, Designing Route Buses: From Bespoke to Mass Customisation, MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 17 Apr 2011
Industrial Design, Bachlor's Degree, First Class Honours, University of Canberra
2001 → 2004
Award Date: 17 Dec 2004
Research area keywords
- mobility
- bicycle
- design
- public transport
- transport
- Sustainable Transport
- Bicycle Safety
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Projects
- 16 Finished
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ACRS conference posters
Napper, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Taylor, W. (Chief Investigator (CI))
28/11/25 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Guidance for Cycling and Micromobility Planning
Fooks, W. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Napper, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
30/01/23 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
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ARSC Poster Collaboration 2022
Napper, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Taylor, W. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Johnson, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
8/08/22 → 3/10/22
Project: Research
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Transitioning Victoria’s Bus Fleet to Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions
Napper, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Coxon, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fridman, I. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Reynolds, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/06/21 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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The Level Crossing Removal Program and Mernda Rail Extension - Tarneit Southern Bus Interchange – DoT Megabike (Stage 1)
Napper, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
24/05/21 → 16/07/21
Project: Research
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Bridging the digital divide in older adults' smart public transport experience: A design proposal and validation study based on PCN and factor analysis
Wang, Z., Deng, R., Napper, R. & Wang, Z., Mar 2026, In: Research in Transportation Business and Management. 66, 17 p., 101618.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Is the trend your friend? Exploring the interior shape and material use across Australian ‘Car of the Year’ winners
Goddard, J., Gómez, R., Beaver, S. & Napper, R., 2026, DRS2026: Edinburgh. Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M. & Buwert, P. (eds.). Edinburgh Scotland UK: Design Research Society, 22 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Space for cycling: A scoping review of recent evidence on the dynamic envelope for bicycle riding
Napper, R., Siew, T. & Ang, Y. J., Jan 2026, In: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. 35, 11 p., 101800.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Designing for Trust: Enhancing Passenger Confidence in Shared Autonomous Vehicles
Deng, X., Coxon, S. & Napper, R., Jul 2025, In: Applied Sciences (Switzerland). 15, 14, 26 p., 7765.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access5 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Improving Austroads Guidance for Cycling and Micromobility Planning
Huggins, C., Hayes, O., Oakes, A., Liang, J., Fooks, W., Stace, S., Napper, R. & Symons, W., 2025, Sydney NSW Australia: Austroads. 84 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report › Research › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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2020 NATIONAL TRANSPORT RESEARCH AWARDS - Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Award Shortlisting: Wheelie compact public bicycle storage
Napper, R. (Recipient) & Roberts, S. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2021 GOOD DESIGN AWARD WINNER: 'Repose: An Economy Class Aircraft Cabin Designed for Sleep'
Aung, N. (Recipient), Armstrong, M. (Recipient), De Bono, A. (Recipient) & Napper, R. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2021 Smarter Hobart Challenge - Bus Shelter and Integrated Digital Interface Design Competition - Finalist
Coxon, S. (Recipient), Armstrong, M. (Recipient), Napper, R. (Recipient), Hwang, I. (Recipient), Roberts, S. (Recipient), Valenza, L. (Recipient), Boxsell, J. (Recipient) & McCardle, F. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Other distinction
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PREMIER'S DESIGN AWARDS, STUDENT DESIGN, FINALIST: 'Repose: An Economy Class Aircraft Cabin Designed For Sleep'
Aung, N. (Recipient), Armstrong, M. (Recipient), De Bono, A. (Recipient) & Napper, R. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Department of Transport: Vulnerable Road User Forum
Napper, R. (Organiser) & Siew, T. (Organiser)
2 Mar 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Bicycle Facilities Technical Reference Group
Napper, R. (Organiser)
15 Apr 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Australasian Road Safety Conference 2023
Napper, R. (Organiser), Taylor, W. (Organiser), Fernando, S. (Organiser) & Evans, H. (Organiser)
19 Sept 2024 → 21 Sept 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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IITB - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Napper, R. (Visiting researcher)
23 Jan 2024Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Visiting an external academic institution
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Life Cycles: New (and old) bicycle technologies as part of our human transport system
Napper, R. (Contributor)
14 Feb 2024Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
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Forget your fixie, we’re more likely to ride bikes if we can carry more on them
16/10/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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Scrap the lycra, why we do cycling wrong in Australia
16/10/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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Forget your fixie, we’re more likely to ride bikes if we can carry more on them
15/10/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH: 'Volgren starts its first electric bus build: BYD chassis
Fridman, I., Napper, R. & McCarney, A.
14/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature