James Longhurst

James Longhurst is Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, specializing in urban environmental policy, transportation history, and American social history. His research examines historical conflicts over road space, bicycle infrastructure development, and the policy implications of transportation choices.

Research focuses on:

• Historical development of bicycle infrastructure
• Urban transportation policy conflicts
• Environmental implications of transportation systems
• Public space allocation debates

Longhurst's publications include Bike Battles: A History of Sharing the American Road, exploring legal and cultural conflicts over road use. Recent work investigates turn-of-the-century bicycle paths and wartime transportation policies. Honors include the Tyson Medal (2023) for academic achievement.

He applies historical analysis to contemporary transportation advocacy through community engagement with organizations including Bicycle La Crosse and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. Longhurst serves on the La Crosse Area Planning Committee's Transit and Active Transportation committee.