Talking Headways Podcast — People-Based Accessibility: Why static maps miss how people actually move

The useful part

People Based Accessibility Maps aren't just about Point A and Point B, but how you get there. Wendy Zhou to discuss her recent USC dissertation on dynamic accessibility — you know, how static maps without a time-based dimension don't tell the whole story on access and how it's time for a "people-based" accessibility. My interest started in urban planning, not specifically transportation, when I did my college in China, and then I did my Masters in Berkeley.

How it works

• For example, when I did my research in undergrad, I visited different communities to see how people actually interact with neighborhood green space.
• So I know people use the infrastructure differently, and the urban planning benefit different people, so that's kind of how I get interested in urban planning in the first place.
• It's about how people live in a city that's got me interested in the first place.
• Then, I got more exposed to transportation when I was in USC, where I work with my adviser, Geoff Boeing.
• … Take smartphone data, which was not a thing that we used to have as planners.

What to take from it

I live in San Gabriel, and where I live is actually marked as a food desert on that map, and I was shocked because I never feel that way. Then I realized because I go to school that has a Trader Joe's. That's when I got more exposed to transportation planning and transportation policy.

Example or evidence

• Obviously that's an issue, but I'm curious what led you to think that this was something that needed extra research, that the static maps weren't quite working for planners and others who are thinking about...
• It's based on the home census tract and it draws a one-mile buffer around the centroid of census tract to see whether, for example, there are supermarkets within that buffer.
• Sometimes I drop off my husband in Pasadena, where his shuttle is, and there are Whole Foods, like every grocery store there.

Details worth keeping

By Jeff Wood 9:56 AM EDT on September 24, 2026 a:first-child]:rounded-l-3xl [&>a:last-child]:rounded-r-3xl [&>a:not(:first-child)]:border-l-0"> Share on Facebook Share on X (Twitter) Share on Reddit Share via Email Share on Bluesky This week on the Talking Headways podcast, we're joined by Dr. You know that there's three ways to play the weekly Talking Headways game: Put on some headphones and click "play" in the player below:

Related coverage

• Streetsblog: Decisions about our public space are not being made at City Hall, but in car showrooms around the world.
• Streetsblog: "Strong reforms are necessary in California if we're going to have public transit agencies that are successful," says this week's guest.
• Streetsblog: Hyperscale AI data centers and highways are both harmful forms of fossil fuel infrastructure that get built without much community input — and it's time to fight back against both, one of our favorite...
• Streetsblog: How can we make our cities less dependent on cars if our neighbors can't even imagine themselves getting on the bus?
• Diversity: Prepare a practical view of workplace accessibility: usable support routes, accessible information, accountable owners, implementation, and review.