“Complaining about parking is rather trite. So here goes. One day last week, I spent 45 minutes trying to find a space in the Polsky deck. I even drove up to the roof to find a spot. After seeing that layout, however, and almost panicking when I had to back down an entire aisle of parking to get out, I abandoned that glimmer of hope.”
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Complaining about parking is rather trite.

So here goes.

One day last week, I spent 45 minutes trying to find a space in the Polsky deck.

I even drove up to the roof to find a spot. After seeing that layout, however, and almost panicking when I had to back down an entire aisle of parking to get out, I abandoned that glimmer of hope.

Let’s ignore how annoying it is that everyone has to pay the $115 transportation fee. Everyone gets it.

The thing is, considering that enrollment is up 6 percent (yay, UA!), parking on campus has gone from being problematic to being nearly impossible.

You have to wonder, how many of the 26,257 students have not requested the parking permit they have coming to them?

We’ve all heard the turnover statistics. Ad nauseam.

Given that the average student turnover is 4.5 times per day, there shouldn’t be any problem finding a space, right?

According to Parking Services, student spaces turn over roughly once every two hours.

I beg to differ. I know a number of people who are on campus all day long. I am one of them.

My space doesn’t turn over during the day. Nor do the spaces for students who have more than one class per day. Or who work on campus. Or who are studying. Or who are hanging out with friends. Need I continue?

I also love the skinny that Parking Services provides on its Web site. It claims that the expanded shuttle system will result in fewer cars being on campus, because now students who live near campus will take the shuttle rather than drive.

What?

Weren’t those students walking before? Weren’t they walking because it was an easy way to cut costs?

You know, like not paying $110 for a parking permit you didn’t need and wouldn’t use.

But now, well, why wouldn’t you use the parking permit?

Sure, you don’t need it, but since you’re paying for it … wouldn’t you use the hell out of it? I would.

In fact, several years ago, I didn’t buy a parking permit. I got dropped off on campus on the days I had class, and picked up at the end of the day. That way, no cost for a parking permit – and no hassles trying to find that elusive parking space.

However, if I was forced to pay a transportation fee, I would not only request the permit (who wouldn’t?), I would use it whenever I could. I might even come to campus for no reason, just to get my money’s worth.

I might even take advantage of that free parking when I went to an Aeros game. Not that I have, of course, I’m just saying … I might.

If other people have that same mentality, we’ve got a problem. Anyone who has tried to park on campus this semester knows we have a problem.

There are 10,386 spaces on campus. Total. There are 26,257 students. And when you factor in faculty and staff? Yowza.

I don’t have a solution to the parking problem.

From the looks of things, it doesn’t appear Parking Services does, either.

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