Imagine you’re at a bus stop, waiting for your ride. Now, imagine it’s July. Across the city, the temperature is in the high 90s. This bus stop has a bit of shade, but still, it’s hot. Would you rather spend that time waiting somewhere along the concrete and asphalt of East Colfax, or tucked between the tree-lined streets of City Park West?
If you’d prefer somewhere with more greenery around, you’re not alone. The research of CU Denver Assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences Ben Crawford, PhD, is shedding light on how our urban environment affects the way we feel. Through interdisciplinary work with colleagues, students, and community partners, Crawford and his collaborators are uncovering ways we perceive the city we live in—and things we can do to enjoy it more—as our climate changes.
Crawford’s study on thermal comfort and atmospheric, natural, and built environment factors at bus stops is a prime example. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is being carried out in partnership with the Regional Transport District (RTD), the U.S. Forest Service, and other organizations. A team of CU Denver students—helmed by Crawford and Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Austin Troy, PhD—spent the summer of 2025 getting paid to work as research assistants. They used specialized sensors to take temperature and other environmental measurements. They also administered surveys to bus riders at a sampling of bus stops across Denver that represent the breadth of the city’s urban environment. Some of the students helped analyze the data.
They found that how comfortable people feel at bus stops on a hot day is about more than what the thermostat says. “It’s driven by how people perceive their environment and whether it’s a pleasant environment, and whether they feel safe and comfortable there,” Crawford said. Trees go a long way in making someone feel more content, for example, even if they still report feeling hot, he said.
Crawford and his team are expecting to submit the study for publication soon and plan to send their findings to RTD. They’re optimistic the data can be used to help improve what it’s like to take public transportation in Denver and beyond. “Extreme heat might impact ridership,” Crawford said. But, adding vegetation to bus stops could help mitigate riders’ discomfort as the climate changes.
Crawford’s work, together with Troy and Assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences Katharine Kelsey, PhD, is also supported by a Grand Challenges grant from CU Denver. He aims to explore interconnections of human efforts to conserve water, mitigate heat, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities. And Crawford believes now is the time to study these topics to make a real impact in the future. “Over 60% of these areas [globally] are being built,” Crawford said. “We have a tremendous opportunity to rethink our cities. … Maybe we can build these cities to be climate refuges, places that are comfortable, healthy, and pleasant for us all.”