Let’s face it: Parking on campus is a problem. At peak hours of the day, Airline, Moody and Meadows garages are completely full. Cars aimlessly circle the commuter lot on University, hoping to snatch up a nonexistent, vacant space. Even the metered spots are completely occupied. Students have even resorted to parking on off-campus residential streets, returning to a ticketed vehicle.
According to the university’s parking policy, no one is guaranteed a parking space on campus. Hey, at least they’re upfront about the situation. Obviously there have been more parking passes issued than there are spots available to students. Sure, it’s not like all students have class at the same time, but by mid-morning there’s enough congestion in the parking lots to raise a red flag.
There’s more to the unavailability of parking spaces than the fact that it’s extremely annoying – it’s also dangerous. In the garages, cars recklessly speed around turns without any regard for cars headed the other way. Although the confines of space in the parking lots aren’t quite as bad, the careless drivers trying to get that single open spot are. There are already an immense number of reckless and inane drivers on the road and on campus, but trying to find a parking spot with minutes to go before class makes for a particularly hazardous driving environment.
The justification for being late to class because of the lack of parking is becoming less and less of an excuse and more of an unavoidable fact. If students who live off campus can’t find anywhere to park their cars, how are they supposed to make it to class on time?
As for parking on residential streets, even that’s become a problem. With cars lining the streets of Fondren and McFarlin, how far away must one park from campus? Is a 10 minute walk from the car to Dallas Hall worth it? Students who have bought a parking pass from Park ‘N Pony and who have to utilize the residential streets are wasting their money – $230 to be exact. Without question, spending a couple hundred dollars for a parking pass should absolutely warrant a place to park.
Late-night parking bodes its own problem. For students studying late at night in Fondren Library, the faculty lot located directly behind the library now remains inaccessible to non-faculty members – even after 5 p.m. The trek to any of the nearby lots can be treacherous after dark. The faculty lot needs to be open at night to ensure the safety of students.
In spite of this, there is good news in the realm of student parking. A new garage is being built on Binkley Avenue, complete with 849 additional parking spaces. Construction is slated to be complete by this February. Even though it has been a long time coming, this garage might be the remedy to the ridiculous parking situation on campus.
