2008 Woodie Awards
Something needs to be done about the parking in this town
Ryan Hayner
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Opinion
Originally published: 2/21/08 at 7:52 PM EST
Last update: 2/21/08 at 7:51 PM EST
To put it simply, driving in Plattsburgh has become as annoying as Brittney Spears.
I never thought I would dread getting into my car in the morning, but having to drive to this college has effectively squashed any joy that being behind the wheel once brought.
It started with off-campus parking, quite possibly the worst example of organization at Plattsburgh State. I don't live very far away, but because of the long hours I spend on campus, and the sub-zero temperatures, I'll drive a few days out of the week. Since all of my classes are in Yokum, the parking lot outside of the Myers Fine Arts Building is the parking lot of choice.
Unfortunately, getting a spot during normal business hours is a lot like hitting the lottery - about a one in a million chance. Just yesterday I circled through the narrow parking lot waiting, hoping for a spot to open up. Several other drivers stuck with the same fate were doing the same, causing a miniature traffic jam. How is there not an accident every day with people zooming around those tiny corners?
I pay $100 but can't park in the one space that actually makes having a parking pass worth it, so I often find myself parking behind Banks Hall. It was one day last semester that I was late for class because Myers was full so I went to Banks. Much to my surprise, I found a school van quadruple parked. Thank you PSUC, for taking up four valuable spaces that we students pay a fortune for.
Here's my solution. There's a giant, useless island between the Myers parking lot and the building. Shrink that and you could add a few more spaces. I know the college is all about going green, but this a time where green grass needs to disappear for the sake of students.
Now let's get to town procedures for dealing with snow. I'm not sure who works the amber parking ban light, but I have to assume they have some form of extended narcolepsy, because I don't see any other reason why that light remained on for a long stretch last week when we had no more than flurries at some points. Parking at a lot of off-campus student housing is limited, so keeping that stupid amber light on just makes me have to pull my Jeep through a giant mound of snow to park on my front lawn.
The road conditions are awful. Has anyone in this town heard of salt? You know, that magical substance most towns with constant snow use to eliminate ice and unsafe road conditions? Guess not.
The only perk to driving in these snowy conditions is the slight justification of having to spend more than $60 to fill the tank of my Grand Cherokee because having a V8 makes it a snow-tank.
Other than that, this place is a snowy hell to drive in.
I never thought I would dread getting into my car in the morning, but having to drive to this college has effectively squashed any joy that being behind the wheel once brought.
It started with off-campus parking, quite possibly the worst example of organization at Plattsburgh State. I don't live very far away, but because of the long hours I spend on campus, and the sub-zero temperatures, I'll drive a few days out of the week. Since all of my classes are in Yokum, the parking lot outside of the Myers Fine Arts Building is the parking lot of choice.
Unfortunately, getting a spot during normal business hours is a lot like hitting the lottery - about a one in a million chance. Just yesterday I circled through the narrow parking lot waiting, hoping for a spot to open up. Several other drivers stuck with the same fate were doing the same, causing a miniature traffic jam. How is there not an accident every day with people zooming around those tiny corners?
I pay $100 but can't park in the one space that actually makes having a parking pass worth it, so I often find myself parking behind Banks Hall. It was one day last semester that I was late for class because Myers was full so I went to Banks. Much to my surprise, I found a school van quadruple parked. Thank you PSUC, for taking up four valuable spaces that we students pay a fortune for.
Here's my solution. There's a giant, useless island between the Myers parking lot and the building. Shrink that and you could add a few more spaces. I know the college is all about going green, but this a time where green grass needs to disappear for the sake of students.
Now let's get to town procedures for dealing with snow. I'm not sure who works the amber parking ban light, but I have to assume they have some form of extended narcolepsy, because I don't see any other reason why that light remained on for a long stretch last week when we had no more than flurries at some points. Parking at a lot of off-campus student housing is limited, so keeping that stupid amber light on just makes me have to pull my Jeep through a giant mound of snow to park on my front lawn.
The road conditions are awful. Has anyone in this town heard of salt? You know, that magical substance most towns with constant snow use to eliminate ice and unsafe road conditions? Guess not.
The only perk to driving in these snowy conditions is the slight justification of having to spend more than $60 to fill the tank of my Grand Cherokee because having a V8 makes it a snow-tank.
Other than that, this place is a snowy hell to drive in.
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