Letters to the Editor
Posted on August 31, 2006

Time to improve parking situation

As a senior entering my third year as a driver at JMU, I would just like to note how abysmal the parking situation on campus is. There is a serious lack of parking available for both residents and commuters; however, it always seems as if there are ample parking spaces available in lots that are closed off to students.

I realize that a new parking deck is being built across from the Quad, but this will not be completed for quite a while and does not meet the immediate needs of students who have to make it to their classes. In addition, the buses have proven to be an unreliable alternative to driving so far this year; the two buses which stop at my apartment complex have been consistently behind schedule because of the amount of traffic both on and off campus.

I suggest that Parking Services offer more of an incentive to students who carpool or bike to campus. Why not allow all students with commuter parking passes and two other passengers to park in an HOV lot? If larger HOV lots were opened closer to campus, surely this would encourage roommates to carpool more often. JMU should also work with Harrisonburg to develop more convenient and reliable bus routes for off-campus students.

I think that the situation can be improved without building many new lots (although these are needed as well). The traffic on campus simply needs to be reduced to a reasonable amount, and I feel that Parking Services should be trying harder to meet the needs of the students.

Kathleen McCraw, senior English and psychology major