Students Present the 'Reality' of Mason Parking
Student project by Amanda Svec and Jessica Nam
Students complain that Mason parking sucks, but what they should be saying is "I'm lazy." Mason has enough parking to accommodate everyone's parking needs, but the majority of parking is located at least a 10 minute walk away from the center of campus, according to Josh Cantor, director of Parking and Transportation Services.
"Students come to my office and complain to me everyday about how they can't find a parking spot," said Cantor, "and I point to the map of campus and inform them that there is parking and where it is available. Unfortunately it is just not convenient enough to meet their desired needs."
great article-great project
The article and project looks great Jessica and Amanda. The use of the visuals is effective. Well done!
Regarding the comment about Lot R the oversell is a decision made by Housing and Parking based on past survey results of YRC student prefernces. In a nutshell, there are 1000 residents in YRC, about 900 each year buy permits and just over 620 spaces(we recently added 22). The simple math tells you that you have a 2/3 chance of getting a spot. The options are either limit the number of lot R permits sold so about 1/3 of the residents with cars there have no chance of getting a space in Lot R ever, or the current system where everyone has the equal 2/3 chance. The limited permit option is great if you're one of the 600 or so, but would be much worse if you're not. Past surveys we have done have shown about a 50/50 split-not enough to sway one way or the other.
To follow-up on the article and for the concerns by people that their voices are not being listened to by Parking, I would for starters point people to the student government message boards where student government has been gracious enough to let me respond directly to questions, complaints, and concerns. On the boards there is more detail than I'm sure anyone would every really want to know, but in it it gives the complete picture of why things are the way they are, what is being done. We have made changes based on some feedback there and in other forums, but also give the background to other viewpoints that we have to take into consideration in serving many different groups. I'd encourage students to read what has been written, and post their own questions or concerns and I'll try and answer them the best I can. I've also done this on a facebook group and tried to answer things directly and honestly. I can always be reached by email, I am free to meet with students, and even this Monday night will be at the town hall in Dewberry Hall at 7pm to take questions. During this construction it is not easy by any stretch, but the more informed people can be of what is going on and their options, the less time and frustration they'll have with parking. As some in the videos and posts have said, there are plenty of spaces normally at the Field House which are general lots and are on campus and can be much quicker. Compare Mason to schools like UVA, Tech, UM College Park, Penn St,JMU-the Field house lots are about as close as most park there.
Anyways, enjoyed the article and hope it leads to more awareness of what is happening on campus.
Thanks,
Josh
Students aren't lazy
You shouldn't say that students are just lazy....the satellite parking is real pain unto itself, no matter how great you make the shuttle. Students not being able to actually park on their own campus is understandably frustrating. I have a Lot R pass and even I have a hard time getting parking because they oversell the lot!
I park at the Field House
Takes me 10 minutes. Never had a problem.
Some students are just lazy about walking.