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University parking needs tune-up |
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Tuesday, 27 February 2007 |
Let me preface this by saying I understand parking at Appalachian is a problem, and with limited spaces, not every student is going to be able to receive or find ideal parking.
However, when students pay for parking in a certain lot, they should expect to find parking in that lot whenever they want.
I live in Appalachian Heights and beside the apartment-like atmosphere, one of the perks of living there was being able to park right outside of the building.
In previous years I had (or my parents rather) purchased expensive off-campus parking that was $500 for the year, just so I’d have parking that was close to my dorm.
This new scenario would have my car practically right outside my room and would save my parents money on parking.
That is all good and well in theory, but unfortunately there have been
numerous times where I, and other residents living in Appalachian
Heights, have had to park in other lots because there are no more
spaces in the parking lot.
This usually happens later in the evening when most people are probably
tucked in their bed, but when night owls, like me, are sometimes just
getting started.
I cannot tell you how uncomfortable I feel parking at the tail end of Greenwood Lot at 1 a.m.
I can either sit there and call Safe Ride, which will take who knows
how long to come and get me, or I can suck it up and hustle myself back
to the safety of my room.
I realize our campus is safe and Greenwood is relatively well lit, but
that doesn’t help me kill the thoughts that are racing through my head
as I power walk through the parking lot.
This situation could’ve been avoided.
I hardly ever see any car parked in Appalachian Heights without the appropriate sticker or hangtag,
which is a good thing because that means that nobody is trying to park there without paying.
But that means that everyone who is parking there belongs there, which isn’t a good thing.
There are only a certain number of spaces in the Appalachian Heights parking lot – not enough for all of the residents.
This means when all those spots were taken, Parking and Traffic should’ve stopped selling them, which it appears they haven’t.
In order to make up for the lack of parking, there is a little gravel lot off to the side where overflow parking is allowed.
While I don’t find this acceptable since I didn’t pay to park in a gravel lot, it still doesn’t alleviate the situation.
The lot is always full and people still have to park in Greenwood.
Often times people who park in the lot try to squeeze in because they
don’t want to have to park in Greenwood causing others to be blocked in.
While overselling these lots brings in more revenue, it is just causing aggravation for everyone.
I have a friend who used to park in the Stadium Lot and had trouble
finding parking there from time to time. When she inquired about it,
she was told that they had “oversold” but their reasoning was because
not everyone who parks in Stadium will need to park there at the same
time.
This logic just doesn’t work for me, people would be a lot happier if
they were guaranteed parking somewhere even if it wasn’t their
first-choice location.
Next year, I hope Parking and Traffic decides not to oversell the lots
because with more and more students coming to Appalachian, the
situation is just going to get worse.
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