Spring Break
Parking needs are not met for students
Anthony Cesarini
Issue date: 6/6/08 Section: Ed-Op
Anyone who has brought a car to campus knows that finding a spot to park it is not easy. Many of the streets near campus are metered or have two-hour parking restrictions. If a block doesn't have either restriction, it's nearly impossible to find a parking spot on that street.
Drexel recently expanded the parking garage at 34th and Ludlow streets, and plans to incorporate more parking into its campus master plan. However, to guarantee a spot for your car for the year, it costs over $1,300 to park in a Drexel lot or the garage. This is money that most students cannot pay, especially after dealing with the already high rent and tuition that come with living near and going to Drexel.
As Drexel students, we are temporary residents of Philadelphia. After all, most of us pay the exorbitant city wage tax when we co-op in the city. So, as residents, we should have access to parking on the street outside our homes. This basic privilege can be found in almost every other municipality across our country. Yet, many times it is nearly impossible to find a parking space on campus.
What happens then? Most of us will park our cars further outside campus, even though we know this is a bad idea. Countless students have had returned to their cars and found smashed windows or new dents.
Others will attempt to park in spots of questionable legitimacy. Then, we return to our cars and find blue envelopes from despised Philadelphia Parking Authority officers. It's fairly common to find a $41 fine for parking too close to the corner. However, no sign, line or painted curb exists to tell us what exactly "too close" really means.
Parking frustrates Drexel students. It adds to the concept of the "Drexel Shaft" for many. Students feel that it's Drexel's responsibility to provide parking and that $339 per term for an assigned space is too much. Sure, we can apply for a parking permit from the city, but that requires that we register our car to our temporary campus address and doesn't guarantee us a spot anyway.
Drexel recently expanded the parking garage at 34th and Ludlow streets, and plans to incorporate more parking into its campus master plan. However, to guarantee a spot for your car for the year, it costs over $1,300 to park in a Drexel lot or the garage. This is money that most students cannot pay, especially after dealing with the already high rent and tuition that come with living near and going to Drexel.
As Drexel students, we are temporary residents of Philadelphia. After all, most of us pay the exorbitant city wage tax when we co-op in the city. So, as residents, we should have access to parking on the street outside our homes. This basic privilege can be found in almost every other municipality across our country. Yet, many times it is nearly impossible to find a parking space on campus.
What happens then? Most of us will park our cars further outside campus, even though we know this is a bad idea. Countless students have had returned to their cars and found smashed windows or new dents.
Others will attempt to park in spots of questionable legitimacy. Then, we return to our cars and find blue envelopes from despised Philadelphia Parking Authority officers. It's fairly common to find a $41 fine for parking too close to the corner. However, no sign, line or painted curb exists to tell us what exactly "too close" really means.
Parking frustrates Drexel students. It adds to the concept of the "Drexel Shaft" for many. Students feel that it's Drexel's responsibility to provide parking and that $339 per term for an assigned space is too much. Sure, we can apply for a parking permit from the city, but that requires that we register our car to our temporary campus address and doesn't guarantee us a spot anyway.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
kagedmunky
Andy
posted 6/07/08 @ 2:21 PM EST
I agree with you in that Drexel makes parking unaffordable for college students. I mean we're college students for cryin out loud! We can't afford that!
Drexel claims that they're trying to encourage students to park on campus to give the residents of Powelton Village a place to park but in this case actions speak louder than words. (Continued…)
Melissa
posted 6/09/08 @ 1:03 PM EST
So, I know it is extremely expensive to park in the Drexel garage if you are a Drexel student. And I myself believe that with the ridiculous amount that we pay for tuition, that garage parking should not be as much as it is or at least a discount for students should be given. (Continued…)
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