Picture this: You oversleep, missing the five alarms you trust to wake you up in time for that dreaded 8 a.m. class in Turlington. It’s too late to take the bus, you don’t have a bike, and your scooter is out of commission. There is however, one last option left, but it’s not pretty. Your car, the treasured mode of transportation, is your only alternative. Here are the struggles you’re most likely going to experience when trying to park on campus:
1. Pedestrian crosswalks When you’re driving through Gainesville, you’re probably thinking that driving was a great idea. Traffic is moving quickly, and you estimate you’ll be seated in class in five minutes… that is until you enter campus and encounter your first (of many) crosswalks. Your light is green, but the crosswalk sign is white. Those five minutes just turned into 10, and you have to wait for students and bikers to cross the street.
2. The 20 mph speed limit Let’s face it — deep down, you want to go 40 mph, maybe even 50. To get to any accessible parking lot, whether it’s the Commuter Lot or the Reitz Union Parking Garage, you’ll have to cross some heavy pedestrian traffic (and avoid University Police). Be aware of how fast you’re going!
3. Scooters. You know that moment when you think there’s finally an empty spot to park in, but then you see (and almost hit) a scooter. It’s one of those classic moments on campus that gives credence to the age-old dilemma that many students complain about: There’s just not enough parking on campus, and scooters suffer too. Our advice? Try to find a parking spot your own size, scooters.
4. Found parking? Not so fast You think you found a prime parking spot until you come back to your car an hour later to find a yellow envelope on your windshield. Maybe you forgot to park inside the lines while rushing to class, or maybe the driver beside you parked too close to the line, leaving you no choice but to do the same. Good luck finding an excuse to appeal that parking ticket.
5. The decal Realizing you can’t park freely on campus yet without some form of decal is quite possibly the worst realization to have when you’re already in the car and driving to school. Putting down some money on a parking decal might be worth it if you live too far from campus and have a bad habit of missing the bus.