Ala. uses Twitter, Facebook for campus traffic info

Almost every day, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) students, faculty and staff navigate through traffic on and around a busy campus. Now the UAB community can navigate the information superhighway via Twitter and Facebook to get updates on street and sidewalk closings -- or where to find parking.

UAB Parking and Transportation Services is using Twitter and Facebook as a way to communicate with people on campus, which includes 86 city blocks in downtown Birmingham.

"We started using Facebook and Twitter about a week ago as a way to drive people to our Website, www.uab.edu/parking," says Kim Fort, director of UAB Parking and Transportation Services. "We want to use as many communication tools as possible to get information out as quickly as possible to the campus community."

Using Twitter and Facebook, people can quickly find out which streets and sidewalks will be closed due to construction, road repairs or special events, Fort said. Most recently, Fort tweeted about an online map of temporary student parking lots on campus.

The UAB Parking and Transportation Service Facebook page even tells students and employees where to catch a UAB Escort van after hours.

"We are gaining followers on Twitter and Facebook," says Fort, "and the reaction so far has been positive."

Follow UAB Parking and Transportation Services on Twitter at twitter.com/uabparking and/or Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Birmingham-AL/UAB-Parking/133757874194