[kuntryboimike]

So I wasn't able to be on campus at all last year and I heard the parking is worse than it's ever been and it'll be even worse this year. Are there any plans to fix this problem? Two options I thought of off the top of my head:

1) Don't allow freshman to drive (The more reasonable option)
2) Somehow get the funds for a massive parking garage (Not so likely I wouldn't think)

[ATrain]

My last year was the first year they started towing, and that appeared to have solved some problems.

[El Scorcho]

Here are the major problems I see with parking at LU:

1. Everyone thinks they shouldn't have to park as far away as they do.

2. No one at LU likes to walk. (And seriously, people. Look around. We have a LOT of people who could stand to walk around campus little more.)

3. See number 1.

I have never been to LU when I couldn't find a parking spot that I was legally allowed to park in. Sometimes I have had to walk a little bit or take a bus, but I always get to where I'm going in plenty of time.

[SuperJon]

Like Scorcho said, there is plenty of parking at Liberty. It's just not the most convenient parking and everyone knows Liberty people think everything should be catered to them personally. They think they should be able to park right next to the building they have class in or work in. If everyone would park where they're allowed and ride the buses or walk, we'd have plenty of parking.

[flamehunter]

Back in the day, when freshman weren't allowed to have cars, I lost 20 lbs my freshman year just from walking to classes, chapel, SAGA, etc. That was as beneficial to me as anything else I got from that year.

[Cider Jim]

Back in the day, when freshman weren't allowed to have cars...

What YEAR was that?

[flamehunter]

Back in the day, when freshman weren't allowed to have cars...

What YEAR was that?

1982

[ALUmnus]

Another factor is the increase in student population, combined with the fact that every year, a higher percentage of freshman probably have a car. Also, more students leads to more employees.

But the #1 factor, like others have said, has always been the attitude of entitlement among a good size of the student population. Even when I was there in the 90's, you had students on the circle who felt they needed to drive to their class in Demoss every day. Of course, I think it's less a Liberty thing and more a societal thing.

[Hold My Own]

Not this again! Ok, I dont have time to dive into stats but everyone says freshman shouldnt be allowed to drive. If thats the case it only changes things by about 600 cars, and none of which are in locations that anyone would want to park at. Generally our students dont get "big thinking" meaning they generally are coming from smaller schools etc.....try going to Tech and parking some where that is less than a 15 minute walk. In 15 minutes you could walk from the softball field to the football field at LU. Not to mention never being more than a 4 minute walk to a bus stop. Really, we dont have a parking issue.....yet.

[From the class of 09]

At the end of the days it’s all about setting the expectation. Now that they will actually tow cars this does allow them to enforce whatever rules they choose. When I was first on campus all they did was passed out tickets. I had a friend who regularly would give us rides to class and park wherever he pleased. That all changed my last year when the same friend came out one day to find his car gone. We all found out that you can take the busses and survive just fine.

The point being if the administration says that everybody can only park by your dorm and that’s it, the problem is solved. The congestion comes because they allow on campus students to drive after 4 or 6 pm to other spots on campus. So then students who live on the circle or east or wherever drive to the Rot or the gym this causes the congestion. Where just a few hours earlier they would’ve taken the bus. If you just set the expectation as you can’t park anywhere on campus but your dorm that would solve many a problem as everyone I know it only took once picking up your car from the impound lot to follow the rules.

Other than that I can always find a spot to park it’s just (as mentioned earlier) a matter of how far away it is.

[flamesfan30]

except after 4:30 and on the weekends the buses run so sparsely that it isn't worth taking the bus anywhere except to North.
i don't really think there is a real parking issue. everyone always complains about it but it really isn't a big deal. freshman have to park in the pit. which can be a good 15 minute walk from some circle dorms.

the towing started my freshman year. they towed like 600 people that first semester. people know to read the parking regulation signs now.

[El Scorcho]

...try going to Tech and parking...

Try parking on campus in Chapel Hill. Anywhere on campus during the Fall or Spring. Your car will vanish quicker than taxpayer dollars in 2010. They're not riding bikes around Chapel Hill for the environment no matter what any of them say. They're doing it because they didn't win a parking pass in the lottery that year.

Everyone pays for public parking, rides the bus, rides a bike or walks. Not short distances either. Miles.

That's always been my ruler for parking. When we get there, then we can whine.

[Sly Fox]

For the record, freshmen weren't allowed to have cars on campus when I was in school. It made life very interesting for a year.

[Hold My Own]

...try going to Tech and parking...

Try parking on campus in Chapel Hill. Anywhere on campus during the Fall or Spring. Your car will vanish quicker than taxpayer dollars in 2010. They're not riding bikes around Chapel Hill for the environment no matter what any of them say. They're doing it because they didn't win a parking pass in the lottery that year.

Everyone pays for public parking, rides the bus, rides a bike or walks. Not short distances either. Miles.

That's always been my ruler for parking. When we get there, then we can whine.

Yeh, it can be said for 2/3 of the schools out there...however most are placed in the middle of cities and or it has been built up around the campus to make a city. So I try to compare us to schools that have plenty of land....not sure about UNC's layout

We may have the best parking for our size school in the state....true story.

[HenryGale]

In a somewhat related question....how do you think parking will be affected on Saturday's when the new stadium is complete?

[PAmedic]

I like the way JMU did it with the parking garage attached right to the stadium via a walk-way

[kuntryboimike]

In a somewhat related question....how do you think parking will be affected on Saturday's when the new stadium is complete?

i'll be ruckin' it to the game from Wal-Mart haha I'm not even going to try to find a spot to park on campus

[SuperJon]

The parking lots at TRBC and on East have been relatively empty the past few years so I think we're in pretty good shape in terms of parking. And if you get there early enough to tailgate you can easily park by the religion hall or Demoss.

[SumItUp]

In a somewhat related question....how do you think parking will be affected on Saturday's when the new stadium is complete?

Make a contribution to the Flames Club and purchase season tickets that include a parking pass and you won't have to worry about the parking situation.

[SuperJon]

.......or you could make a contribution to the Flames Club and purchase season tickets that include a parking pass......

Yeah. There's that too. A $250 donation (that can be spread over 12 months meaning about $21/month) and season tickets gets you in the lot next to the bookstore for football and next to DeMoss for basketball.

[jcmanson]

Worst case scenario is parking at the mall and heading over from there. I'm sure that won't be needed until we reach 30k though, if then.

Always plenty of spots on East by Doc's Diner.

[PAmedic]

Worst case scenario is parking at the mall and heading over from there. I'm sure that won't be needed until we reach 30k though, then we'll implode River Ridge and build our parking deck there.

FIFY

[PAmedic]

found this amusing little gem of self-entitlement

[youtube]

[/youtube]

[Cider Jim]

I think I saw Mrs. Cider's gold PT Cruiser parked illegally in that film clip.

[thepostman]

this makes me laugh...i mean i won't lie when I was there it was annoying..but it was annoying because I was lazy and hated to walk...the transit has improved every year and I am sure its better now then when I was around...

It is all about laziness...nothing more..and really there isn't a commuter parking problem...the problem is people parking where they aren't suppose to, including faculty.

But I'm not saying anything that hasn't already been said