The parking system needs to change

By Sydney Blake

Getting to class at SUNY Plattsburgh can be a hassle as students rack up parking tickets, fight for spots and run late to class because of the little options given to students.

As a senior, I have dealt with both on campus and off-campus parking. I had originally thought that getting a parking pass would make driving and getting to class easier, especially with the freezing weather conditions.

I was quickly proven wrong.

If a student wants a parking pass they must pay $30 a year for the registration fee, and then pay $76 a semester for the actual parking pass itself. This is a process that repeats itself each semester a student wants a pass. Without a pass you can rack up tickets and possibly have your car towed.

When I was a freshman, I lived in Whiteface and was excited about the fact that first years could have their car on campus. Unfortunately, the closest spot I could find was lot 18.

 This was behind the ‘high rises,’ the tall buildings by Clinton dining hall. There are plenty of spots available in lot 18, but with so many on campus students, there is never a good spot that is close enough. 

Lot 18 is very packed at all times, making it difficult to find a spot that’s close to the buildings. I’d have to race to find a spot, and when I did get a close one, I’d avoid driving my car in case someone took my space while I was gone.

The walk from that particular lot to my dorm was five to ten minutes and when I would get groceries it would become multiple trips back and forth. During the winter, it was an almost painful walk to my car with the freezing winds hitting my face no matter how bundled I was. 

Other students would complain about the inconvenient distance and the act of having to walk in the treacherous cold, but what really bothered everyone in my building was that there was an empty lot right behind our building that some faculty and staff would park in. 

A few people from my building and I decided that we would park on Sanborn Ave, which was past the staff parking lot behind Whiteface. This walk would only be 5 minutes or less, but we’d still race to get a good spot closer to the dorm. 

This same pattern continued into my years of being an off-campus student as I am still hurrying to find spots on my way to classes. With the majority of my classes being in Hawkins and Ward, the only parking lot available was lot 3. 

The worst one.

Lot 3 is a very small space that’s only able to hold a couple dozen cars, this is ironic as it’s the main off campus parking lot next to three busy academic buildings. The traffic flow becomes congested multiple times a day, as people camp out spots waiting for people to leave class so that they can take their space. The mess of cars trying to get in and out turns into an unsafe situation for students if accidents occur. 

It doesn’t matter what time you leave, it’s never easy finding parking. Normally the lot is always packed and you have no choice but to find street parking nearby. Then  you have to hike from all the way down the block just to arrive to class stressed, late and exhausted from trying to get a spot.

All this to say, What am I paying for? Why should I pay $182 a year if I’m not even given the accessibility to parking lots that are supposed to be available with my pass. I am annoyed that the faculty and staff lots have a plethora of free spaces not being used. 

As a student who cares about being on time for class and doesn’t want to get sick from the harsh weather, I am hoping for a change with the parking system here. The system already in place can become chaotic and distract from classes. With change, there is a possibility of a more comfortable and safe parking experience. In theory, this means less students mispark, get tickets, or have a freezing trek to class.