A Commuter’s Worst Nightmare

One of the most dreaded things that a college will ever have to deal with is the hassle of parking your car. This literally one of the biggest nationally collegiate headaches that a college student will ever endue—right next to joining the student loan debt with the rest of the country. Student parking has gotten worse as the years have gone by and can only be solved by temporary solutions.

Considering parking decks are “expensive” and most universities only have limited land space to build these parking lots, overcrowding is becoming an epidemic. There are a record number of students that 1) bring their cars on campus, 2) have a sizeable commuter population, 3) have an increasing number of students either going back to school or starting for the first time. These colleges and universities are scrambling to figure out an efficient and effective way to keep student parking manageable. Here are a couple tips to find a parking spot at your school:

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Tip #1: Arrive Early

The Golden Rule is to always give yourself ample time to find a parking spot on your campus. If you are aware of the amount of traffic flow and busyness of your school, allow yourself enough time to be there without missing your class.

Tip #2: Become an Early Bird

We might not all be an early bird but “the early bird gets the worm”. Early morning classes are typically not at the most favorable times for college students. This means that there are few students taking up eligible parking spots. Scheduling your classes early in the morning can cut down on your need to arrive earlier to find spots. Go ahead and register for that 8 am—or not.

Tip #3: Find Shortcuts

For those students who can only leave for school at a designated time, whether its for work, time at another school, etc. you do not have the option to leave extra early to find available parking spots. Finding some shortcuts during your commute will make your life a lot easier. Being able to cut through traffic and find your way back to campus can also save you some commute time. 

Students can also find out from your school’s parking services department if there is a satellite location for commuter students. Often, there are off campus parking available to students that do not park on campus. These lots are used for the shuttle services, so there is available parking, a shuttle service to and from campus, and usually free for students.