HSRC News Briefs

HSRC expands with administrative and research hires

The UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) has increased their staff roster with the additions of Jean Justice, Office Assistant, and Carl Sundstrom, Engineering Research Associate.

Jean Justice comes to HSRC with 20 years of experience in administration, all of which have been with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her role at HSRC, Jean handles all day-to-day needs of the Center, including financial, clerical and organizational. Previous to working at HSRC, Jean served in administration with the Chapel Hill TEACCH Center, UNC School of Pharmacy and UNC Student Health Services.

Carl Sundstrom is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering. His previous experience includes Glatting Jackson in Orlando, Florida, where he worked as a traffic engineer and planner. He also worked as an intern with Kittelson & Associates in Portland, Oregon, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In his new role, Carl serves as an engineering research associate, contributing to engineering and research projects surrounding general highway safety and pedestrian and bicycle-related issues.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center launches updated and redesigned Web site for bicycling information

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, in its continued effort to disseminate information and technical assistance on pedestrian and bicycle safety, has launched its updated and redesigned bicycling Web site at www.bicyclinginfo.org.

New features of the site include:

• A centralized, Web-based Library of bicycling-related materials and documents compiled by practitioners and researchers.
• A searchable database of Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to bicycle safety. If users do not find their answer within the database, there is a mechanism for them to submit a question to the PBIC.
• A searchable database of upcoming events and training opportunities.
• A compilation of downloadable bike maps from around the country.
• A News Room with PBIC press releases, resources for the media and recent news articles. Users can also sign up to received email updates and news from the Center.

The new site was developed with input from site users and PBIC stakeholders. Revised and new content on the site was developed in conjunction with bicycling safety experts from across the country. New and updated content includes more detailed discussion of plans and policies that support bicycling, resources for bicyclists, information on how to find bicycle data and statistics, tools for identifying bicyclist concerns, and strategies as well as guidance to assist communities in building bike-friendly communities.

The redesign and update of the site is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from FHWA.

UNC Highway Safety Research Center announces call for scholarship applications

The UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) announces the third annual scholarship for graduate students interested in the field of highway safety.

The $1,000 scholarship is available to a full-time graduate student with an interest in transportation safety who will be enrolled in the fall of 2008 at any of the University of North Carolina campuses.

"The transportation safety field continues to evolve and create many new career opportunities," said HSRC Director David Harkey. "We have been impressed with the caliber of applicants we've received in the past, and we hope this scholarship will continue to encourage more students to pursue one of the many disciplines of highway safety."

Candidates will be evaluated based on academic performance, extracurricular and professional activities, work experience and an essay on a current highway safety issue.

The deadline for applications is April 1, 2008.

For more information on the HSRC Scholarship and to download an application, please visit http://www.hsrc.unc.edu/news_room/2008-02-13_Scholarship.cfm.

The scholarship recipient will be announced in June 2008.