As we look forward to a new semester, we dread what has become a tradition of sorts here at UB: wrangling for a parking spot in overfilled lots. Coming to class over an hour early just for the chance to park on the spine is a major inconvenience. Recently, the Department of Parking and Transportation has been considering a proposal that would prohibit all freshmen from parking on the Academic Spine from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Supposedly having freshmen, including commuters, parking in outlying lots, like the lot at the Center for Tomorrow, would provide some relief for parking congestion.
But this is a haphazard, short-term solution that would burden a group of students who are already dealing with adjusting to college life. The benefit to upperclassmen would be limited, and the harm to a commuting freshman's quality of life would be considerable. In lieu of this initiative, a long-term solution must be considered to solve this age-old problem.
This university is largely composed of commuter students. Among them, commuting freshmen face the most difficult challenges. Freshmen commuters at UB already have a famously difficult time acclimating to college life because they have fewer ties to the campus. Restricting them to outlying lots will further relegate them to a second-class status.
This scheme will benefit upperclassmen insignificantly. Available parking outside of the Spine lots is located in essentially three areas: the Center for Tomorrow, the lots near Alumni Arena and UB Stadium, and the lots near Ellicott. These lots do not stand empty currently, and to merely shuffle around who can park where according to academic standing will not really open up parking. If the department had envisioned freshmen commuters parking in dorm parking lots they are mistaken. These lots are already filled to the brim.
The Spectrum proposes that UB find ways to help the problem without hurting students' quality of life. One easy solution is to stop resident students from driving to the Spine for class. Part of the $738 per semester transportation fee goes to pay for shuttles that provide a timely ride to the Spine from the dorms and apartments. Campus residents should get a differently colored hangtag, and should not be allowed to clog the lots on the Spine during peak hours.
Also a comprehensive survey of the reliability of the bussing service could identify weak areas like the need for more busses or the failure to follow to the schedule. If these concerns were effectively addressed it would make bussing a more attractive option for skeptical students.
But whatever their merits, all of these solutions are short-term fixes to a bigger problem. The only long-term solution is to increase the number of parking spaces at UB.
For years UB officials have held firm to the idea that another lot or a garage would compromise green space. Green space? Take a look at the campus. That ship sailed long ago. A new lot or a garage is necessary, and the need will only grow as incoming classes become larger. The Department of Parking and Transportation must finally put long-term solutions on the table.
For the short term, at least, keeping all freshmen from the Spine lots is a bad plan. Keeping all resident students off the Spine is a more workable solution.
