Solving the UBC-Okanagan parking problem

Six alternate options for getting to school

By Melinda Pedersen - Contributor

10/20/11

Students find alternative parking along the road. Photo by Hanss Lujan (The Phoenix)

As a UBC Okanagan student wanting to get to class, I have seven options on how to find my way to class, often while sipping my much-needed coffee from studying the night before because, more often than not, I spent the weekend snowboarding, or floating down the Penticton channel, or engaging in some form of other activity that aided in my healthy psychological wellbeing. But, as I was saying there are seven ways for me to get to class in the morning and I’ll detail them below.

Option 1: Catch the bus

The only problem is that I live too close to the school to take the bus. One morning I stood at the bus stop, coffee in hand, and watched the bus, full to the brim of eager students who lived marginally farther away from the school than I, standing and leaning onto one another, barely enough room between them to pass a note, let alone my body. The bus didn’t even slow, the bus driver—staring at the road—indifferent to my plight. I get this. Driving laws require that no one can stand past the yellow line. So I waited. And watched a second bus go by, filled like that guy on day twenty of Supersize Me. And the third bus go by. When the fourth bus passed by with the driver carefully avoiding my eyes, I turned around, walked home, and took another option to school, glad that I didn’t have a midterm that I would have been late for.

Option 2: Walk/Bike

So as I’m sure you’re thinking that if I live too close to catch the bus to school, I must be able to walk or bike. This is true. It is an hour to walk to school and a twenty minute bike ride. Besides the inconvenience of walking when the weather is too hot, too cold, rainy, or snowing, it is often dangerous, especially at the railroad bridge. Here the shoulder shrinks into nothing and I’m forced to 1) cross the busy highway to the other side and then cross back when the shoulder magically disappears on that side of the road, barely avoiding the driver who is too busy talking on her cell phone to watch the road or 2) think thin and hope that there’s enough room for everyone on the road. Usually I chose option 2, although I’ve tried to avoid that option after I almost made two semis collide. Having seen me walking, semi driver #1 moved far over in his/her lane to give me room. Semi driver # 2 couldn’t move over at all because car #1 going opposite direction and talking on cell phone was hugging the yellow line. Semi driver #2 laid on his horn and the two semis went around the corner, paralleling each other and less than a foot apart. What a great way to start a morning.

Option 3: Drive

This option just makes too much sense. I have a car, and even have insurance. The only problem is I didn’t have the foresight to buy my parking pass last October. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but nonetheless, by the time I went to purchase my parking pass it was too late . So if I drive I have:

Option 3a: pay $5/day for parking 4 days/week. So $5x4=$20/week x 13 weeks (term one) = the amount I spend on food in a month.

Option 3b: pay $2/hour at the visitor meters. (2($2 x 6 hours)(for Mon and Tues) + 2($2 x 8 hours) (for Weds and Thurs)) x 13 weeks (term 1) = almost two months’ rent.

Option 3c: just park somewhere and cross my fingers that I don’t get ticketed. I do tend to be a risk-taker, but this just isn’t as much fun as tying a bungee to my ankle and jumping off a bridge.

Option 4: Carpool

I know lots of people who could drive to school. The only problem is that, like me, they were too busy having lives to sit outside the parking office waiting for parking passes to go on sale. Now, I know you’re going to say that we should have had the forethought to buy passes earlier. But, the fact is, there is just not enough parking for students. Even if I did have the forethought to buy a pass earlier, someone else would still be in my position, wondering how to get to school without being hit by a semi.

Option 5: Stay home

I’m considering grad school. This just doesn’t seem like the best way to ensure my grades are good enough to get in.
Online anyone?

Option 6: Teleport

I’m working on it.. It would make going home for the holidays cheaper. My chemistry-major friend claims that she just doesn’t see it happening before I’m done my degree. I though chemists had mad skills. But in comparison to the other options, it still might be the best one.

With the number of students at UBC Okangan increasing each year, more transportation/parking options are needed. But, I guess over-pricing hourly and daily rates are more profitable than providing adequate parking.

Tags: fees, bus, walk, parking, opinions, The Phoenix, Janelle, Sheppard, seven, methods, get to class, teleport