I live a grand total of four miles from campus, but every morning, it takes me at least twenty minutes to get there. And that’s on a good day. This is because I park in the South Lot. Uh-oh, you know where this is going.
To get to campus on time, you try to be parked in the South Lot at least a half hour before your class starts, and even then sometimes the crowd to get on the shuttle is so big that you’re late anyway. Why not just set the alarm and get there earlier? Because like most people who live off campus, you work in the evenings after class, which means that you stay up later to do homework, which means that you value your sleep just that much more. You know all of this because unless you live on campus, you’re faculty, staff, or you’ve got rich parents who are willing to pay for the parking structure, you’re forced to do it every day. If that’s not a commute, I don’t know what is.
Granted, the current setup UNM has provided for us is better than having no parking at all. But what good is parking if you can’t afford it? Unless you drive a motorcycle (for which parking permits are $63), be prepared to pay between $112 and $166 for lot parking per year if you’re a student. Because of a graduated-by-income parking fee, UNM’s own faculty and staff have to shell out anywhere between $112 and $1,600 depending on where they decide to park, but good luck finding a professor who parks in South Lot to save money.
When I attended New Mexico State University, parking permits were cheap, and there was a surplus of spaces. NMSU even offered free lots (on the edge of campus) for those who didn’t want to spend money to park. Now, just because you hate the parking at UNM (and trust me, everyone does; go ahead and ask), a cheaper, more efficient parking system is no reason to transfer down to NMSU. Instead, we, the academic community of UNM, must press for a change.
The way NMSU has been able to offer $40 permits (for both students and faculty) is through its cost structure: the reduction of their overhead costs has allowed them to pave lots, fund shuttles and security, and pass the savings on to the students. What exactly is overhead? In this particular situation, it’s the parking structure, or NMSU’s lack thereof. NMSU’s website has statistics detailing other universities’ parking structures, saying that such a structure would cost between $15,000 and $25,000 per parking space to build (have a look if you don’t believe me: http://nmsuparking.com/FAQ.html). And you wondered where all your money was being spent.
Rumor has it that the University has been looking into building another of these money-eaters. I would like to take this opportunity to beg that they do no such thing. Although undeveloped or otherwise available land is sparse in the Nob Hill/Student Ghetto area, I implore the University of New Mexico to find some and put it to good use. Come to think of it, last time I checked, there are a couple of available unpaved lots just south of The Pit (whose principal use is tailgating… remember now?). According to NMSU’s website, traditional parking lots cost around $1,000 per parking space to develop a lot on open land. With more “regular” parking lots at UNM’s disposal, UNM could afford to pay off the parking structure faster, eventually driving down the cost of parking. I don’t know about you, but that would make me happier.
So, how do we make this happen? Simple: all we have to do is expose the parking structure for the succubus that it really is, and support for a new one will quickly diminish. The fact of the matter is we have a right to relatively inexpensive parking here at UNM (cause if the Aggies can have it, why can’t we?), and I would like to know that the Board of Directors here at UNM have evaluated all of their options before the price to park goes up again.
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OTOH, I am grateful to have access to the parking garage when I need it. I ride a motorcycle to school almost every day. It's significantly cheaper to buy a parking permit (as the original author mentioned), my Kawasaki gets much better mileage than my truck, and I save a bunch of time by not having to park in Belen and take a shuttle.
Ther are times, though, that I simply can't ride the motorcycle. In winter, sometimes road conditions make motorcycling unsafe. It doesn't happen often. Typically NM has riding weather about 355 days of the year or more. On occasion I also get delayed by my responsibilities as a father to three young children, or I have to haul things that don't fit on a bike. Or, like last week, the Kawasaki was awaiting repair parts, and I couldn't ride. At those times it is wonderful to have short-term parking available, even if it is expensive.
What does irritate me though, is when the University decides that visiting dignitaries need the entire parking structure for a special event and they put crime scene tape around the thing; or when the talking pre-pay machines decide they don't like my credit card, and they don't like my cash, and they won't give me back my parking ticket. The machines need a ticket ejector button.
And I could complain about the structure's design. People in NM drive trucks, big trucks, and it would be nice if the garage had just a smidge more maneuvering room.
And while I'm glad skateboarders find the garage entertaining, I don't want to be held liable for bouncing one off the third deck as he comes around a blind corner. Remember, guys, you are no match for a GMC.
If the garage wasn't there, on those days when I had to drive I would end up driving around for hours trying to find contingency parking. Or, I'd have to buy one of those ridiculously expensive auto permits. Just think, guys, my truck not in the lot frees up another space for you. Or, you could all get motorcycles and have a lot more fun commuting...
I'm certainly not defending UNM's ridiculous parking situation (which was ridiculous even when my mom was taking classes here 20 years ago) but you do have to acknowledge that UNM faces more parking challenges than State does. But still, I can't believe how much they charge for South Lot passes! That's absurd!
father o'kc, you're right. motorcycles are more convenient when it comes to parking, and the passes are cheaper. however, your everyday college student isn't going to be able to afford a motorcycle (let alone the insurance payments), so arguing that everyone should buy one is ridiculous. and you're right again, that the parking structure is convenient to have if you're running late or whatever; i just wanted everyone to know that it's the reason why parking is so expensive here at UNM (for us non-motorcyclists at least).
and mandy, the parking situation here is awful, but it's not un-changable. sure NMSU has more land to work with, but UNM has some land of their own, and i would personally like to see it put to good use.
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