Diana Garcia / Roundup
It is a battle for students at Pierce College when looking for parking spaces.
Space is limited to the nine parking lots around the campus and parking permits are nonetheless being sold.
“Sometimes students are fighting over a spot. Not a good situation,” said Rene Hernandez, 20, a former student. “Me and some other girl pulled up at the same time, but I had talked to the lady who was about to leave, so I ended up getting the parking spot.”
Parking is a huge issue on campus and it is also a safety issue.
“Even at peak hours a student may have to park across campus in order to get to class on time,” said Genaro Miranda, 33, a former student at Pierce. “My own girlfriend parks all the way to the Equestrian Center, because there is no parking. I have to drive her to her car, because it’s not safe.”
“My opinion is that we are 100 percent over populated with students with vehicles and because of that we are lacking in parking spaces,” said Genaro.
“We have day and night students and come here for 6-8 hours a day”, said said Brian Silk the Analyst of the College Development in Enterprise Office. Knowing that not everyone takes classes at the same time, he believes Pierce has enough parking stalls available for all students.
A parking structure it would enhanced for the reason that anyone who attends or visits Pierce the structure would be located in one area, rather than spread throughout the whole campus.
Pierce has nine parking lots spread throughout the campus. Students come and go at different times, but because the parking lots are spread apart it can be difficult for students to walk to their classes.
That is when the safety issue comes in, according to Genaro.
“It goes for both females and guys, and they need to provide safety,” said Genaro.
He cares deeply for the safety of his girlfriend and others, but believes that the community itself will not like a parking structure to be built because it could be seen as an eye sore.
The Parking Permit fees are $20 for regular and $27 Preferred parking. When paying for Preferred each pays a Membership fee to the Associated Students Organization (ASO) of $7 and may park in all lots. If purchasing non-preferred you may only park in lot 4 by the stadium.
Day passes are also available in Lots 1, 7 and 8 that cost $2. In lot 1, there is a 30 minute parking zone which requires a 30 minute parking day pass.
The number of parking permits sold per semester was unavailable.
“We don’t have the capability to count,” said Pardaman Mann, supervisor at the Business Offices.
“I mean they could be a little more affordable, but they are not out of reach,” said Hernandez.
“What screws it up is that it says preferred parking and it means I am guaranteed a spot,” said Genaro. “They need to get rid of it.”
Motorcycle parking is provided in Lot 1 and Lot 7 on the end caps only adjacent to the campus and are not required to display a permit, but the permit must be carried at all times.
Disabled parking stalls are in every lot and requires a disabled permit be displayed at all times.
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dgarcia.roundupnews.com
( Louie Heredia)
