Let’s give ‘em somethin’ to talk about

I’m a commuter and every Monday and Wednesday morning, I can be found circling the school like a vulture zeroing in on its prey in search of a highly coveted parking space at GC&SU. I actually leave my house 30 minutes early to give myself enough time to park.

There are so many categories now on parking spots. For example, residents only parking, permit parking, orange parking, green parking, visitor’s center parking, handicap parking, Governor’s Mansion parking, employee only parking, GC&SU vehicles only parking and two hour parking.

I’ve already received three parking tickets for going over my time in a two hour parking spot. In one instance the two hour parking sign was down the street. Therefore, I didn’t think it pertained to the spot my vehicle was occupying. I was wrong.

What if I get in my car at the two hour limit, back out of the parking spot and pull back in? Does my time start over? It’s so frustrating.

Now the university wants to take away more parking spaces by turning a parking lot located behind the GC&SU Library between Chappell Hall, Russell Auditorium and Parks Hall into a green area with side walks, shrubbery, trees, grass, a little cafe and picnic tables, according to a recent article in The Colonnade.

I think this project is a nice thought, but doesn’t justify the loss of already scarce parking. There are plenty of trees, sidewalks, grass, caf? areas and seating on the beautiful lawn of front campus.

And another project I don’t understand is the curbs that were erected around the pedestrian crossing areas which confiscated more parking spots. Do the new walks really help the pedestrians? It doesn’t seem like a big difference to me.

Those who don’t agree with me will probably suggest that I invest in a commuter parking lot pass. But by the time I arrive on Monday and Wednesday, the commuter parking lots are already full.

I also won’t park in the lot by the railroad tracks and depend on the shuttle to drop me off at school. I do not trust the security of this parking lot because there are very few students who park here. Therefore, there’s very little security and I don’t want to enter my car here at night time.

I believe the parking problem will only worsen as enrollment increases. Each year more and more freshmen enroll at GC&SU, and there are already too few spots for the current students.

I wish the university would stop taking away valuable parking spots to make a little park when we already have a beautiful front campus. GC&SU should focus logically on what the students, faculty and staff need, instead of what might look better. I don’t need another green lawn to hang out, but I do need a safe place to park my car where I won’t get a ticket.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 20 2006. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry