Our global visiting scholars, Dr. Svetlana Cociu and Kelli Kulikova, traveled from Moldova and Armenia to visit us at the University of Iowa. We partner with these scholars, along with other colleagues, on the project called Increasing Capacity for Injury Research in Eastern Europe (iCREATE). Dr. Svetlana Cociu and Kelli Kulikova presented their current research efforts at The Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR), along with a presentation at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health. During their visit, the entire TRIPS Lab joined in on the sightseeing fun and toured the Driving Safety Research Institute (DSRI), along with The Hank Virtual Environments Lab.

Cara Hamann, associate professor of epidemiology, has received the 2024 Faculty Communicating Ideas Award from the Office of the Vice President for Research. Hamann has frequently shared her work on transportation issues, including teen driving, bike and scooter safety, and pedestrian safety, through peer-reviewed journals and extensive media outreach.

Get to know more about our TRIPS Lab Team Member, Esme Gibson! Currently she is working as a research assistant on the Adolescent Bicycle Safety Education Study and previously worked on the SaferTrek: sharing the road study.

Iowa Bicycle Day at the Capitol (Tues., 1/30) presented an opportunity to discuss bicycle safety issues and solutions with state lawmakers. Cara Hamann and Ryan Dusil spoke with several lawmakers about gaps in protections for people using crosswalks. A related proposed bill (HF2568) passed subcommittee and committee and will be discussed by the House of Representatives soon. Other high-profile bills related to transportation safety includes HSB707, related to cell phone usage while driving and automated traffic enforcement.

This policy brief addresses the lack of protections in Iowa State Code for people using crosswalks. Drivers are not required to stop or yield to bicyclists riding in crosswalks in Iowa. A driver who strikes and kills or injures a bicyclist at trail-roadway crossing would likely not face any legal repercussions. Iowa could take a simple and straightforward approach to legally protect all crosswalk users by changing the term pedestrian to person in the State Traffic Code.

Over the next few days, students will be returning to a snowcapped campus, with more winter weather on the way. Check Iowa 511 for updated road conditions. Travel safe, everyone!

Iowa City Bike Library Shop Coordinator, Walter Linares, was a guest on the From the Front Row podcast to discuss how biking contributes to personal and community health. In summer 2023, the TRIPS Lab team worked closely with Linares as he instructed 42 children in Bike Club Safety Camp, the intervention component of an NIH-funded youth bike safety education study. Click here to listen to the podcast.

Undergraduate Public Health student and Research Assistant, Faith Lang, presented her Experiential Learning poster on Monday, December 4. Lang's poster highlighted some preliminary survey results from the youth bicycling safety project. Click to learn more about the youth bike safety education project.

The TRIPS Lab team gathered in green to show support and raise awareness for National Injury Prevention Research Day on November 18th, 2023. The TRIPS Lab’s overall mission is to work towards eliminating preventable injuries and deaths. To learn more about Nation Injury Prevention Day and ways to get involved click here.

Cara Hamann, Michelle Reyes, Amir Ghanbari, and Elizabeth O'Neal presented on various research topics at the 2023 Traffic and Records Forum hosted by Iowa State University's Institute for Transportation (InTrans) on November 8th. The TRIPS Lab presenters discussed 4-3 lane road conversions, cycling to school route choice, and child and adult responses to autonomous vehicle communication cues. Click to learn more about the forum.