Welcome to the fall 2015 “Parking Games,” where students whip through lots and stalk fellow students all in an effort to be crowned parking spot victor.
In response to the rise in overcrowded parking lots, California State University, Long Beach partnered with the campus police to develop a parking plan to combat the school’s overcrowded lots and appease frustrated students.
The parking plan consists of several different strategies to remedy short and long term parking issues, like opening additional parking locations on and off campus, directing congested traffic and promoting the school’s sustainable transportation services, said Mike Uhlenkamp, executive director of news for CSULB.
But despite the efforts, the university is still finding it difficult to keep up with the increased traffic, students say. Andrew Merdjanian, a transfer marketing major, said that he arrived two hours early for his first class and that it took him half an hour to find a spot.
“The first day of school was ridiculous,” Merdjanian said. “I felt super frustrated and stressed, and that it was just a huge waste of my time.”
In past years, the university directed overflow parking to the Marina lot as a way to deal with congestion, but this year the Marina is under construction. CSULB consequently secured access to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church’s parking lot as a temporary solution for the first week of school, Uhlenkamp said.
CSULB also offers carpool spots in front of Brotman Hall for students and faculty who travel with two or more in a single car, but the spots remain largely unused.
“I have class at 8 a.m. and never struggle to find parking,” senior public relations major Marissa Gomez said. “I guess I just got lucky with my schedule, because I have free reign of the lot every morning.”
Other alternatives included the launch a new off-campus shuttle this semester that provides free service to students, faculty and staff with a valid ID.
Campus police are also providing traffic direction to help with vehicle entry and departure, as well as directing individuals to other open parking locations, Uhlenkamp said.
Senior dance major Rhiannon Lutheran said that campus police directed her to an open handicap spot after twenty minutes of searching for parking.
Uhlenkamp said that CSULB strives to increase student use of alternative modes of transportation in an effort to be more sustainable and reduce the university’s carbon footprint.
The university does not track the number of commuters, but this year’s enrollment is the university’s largest since 2008, Uhlenkamp said.