With nearly 16,000 students enrolled and only 2,500 parking spots available, Clark College’s parking lot is one of the most inconvenient spaces in town. Students complain that as you pull in on campus in the morning, you will witness drivers circling the lots, creating traffic jams and accidents. Some students end up leaving their car illegally parked in the street, creating a hazard to surrounding neighborhoods. But the problem doesn’t end there, as the parking issue also affects students’ academic achievements, being a direct cause of missed assignments and tests.
Good news is there are many solutions to this case. Although Clark College does not have the option to create more parking lots, there are countless alternatives for driving. This college, being at a beneficial location, provides direct access to public transportation, reducing the need for parking. Something the college community could do as well is encourage healthier substitutes such as biking and walking to school, offering incentives for non-drivers. If making students aware of other alternatives for driving doesn’t reduce the tension in the parking lots, there’s always an option of putting more restrictions on drivers.
Anastasiya Megega
Vancouver
