Spring Break
Demand for parking stays same, fees increase
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
08/17/08 - According to the University of Rhode Island Web site, there is a record high of 3,150 members in this year's freshman class.
Despite this, Director of URI Police and Security Robert Drapeau said his department has not seen a notable rise in parking demand.
Another constant when discussing parking is students' unhappiness with the location of the lots.
"A lot of complaints you hear about people riding around for 20 minutes looking for a spot is really unnecessary if they went to the large Plains Road lot," Drapeau said, referring to space issues at the two more popular lots, one near Christ the King Church and one behind the Fine Arts Center.
The small change in numbers in the past two years might be due in part to drivers who have failed to register their vehicles with Parking Services, Drapeau said.
"We have adequate space according to our numbers," he said, "in fact we're better off than our numbers would say, but we know there are a whole bunch of vehicles that are either one-time use or trying to avoid the system."
Junior Dylan Murphy, who owns a car on campus, said he has noticed a change in parking.
"Parking's tighter than last year I think, it's been harder to find a spot," he said. "I think it's gone downhill pretty much over the years. Freshman year was the best."
But Drapeau said students were just unwilling to park where it wasn't "convenient" for them.
Sophomore commuter Jacqueline Rivera voiced a different opinion.
"I don't feel like there's enough parking spaces," Rivera said. "The days that I come later, I have to park all the way over at the Ryan Center to even get a spot, even though I have a sticker and I have to get to work."
Rivera said she does not think the situation is any different than in previous years.
Part of Rivera's difficulty in finding spots may be attributed to an assignment change in certain parking spots. Parking Services has added 90 spaces to those allotted for residents, taking these spaces from the commuter section of the Keaney lot.
Despite this, Director of URI Police and Security Robert Drapeau said his department has not seen a notable rise in parking demand.
Another constant when discussing parking is students' unhappiness with the location of the lots.
"A lot of complaints you hear about people riding around for 20 minutes looking for a spot is really unnecessary if they went to the large Plains Road lot," Drapeau said, referring to space issues at the two more popular lots, one near Christ the King Church and one behind the Fine Arts Center.
The small change in numbers in the past two years might be due in part to drivers who have failed to register their vehicles with Parking Services, Drapeau said.
"We have adequate space according to our numbers," he said, "in fact we're better off than our numbers would say, but we know there are a whole bunch of vehicles that are either one-time use or trying to avoid the system."
Junior Dylan Murphy, who owns a car on campus, said he has noticed a change in parking.
"Parking's tighter than last year I think, it's been harder to find a spot," he said. "I think it's gone downhill pretty much over the years. Freshman year was the best."
But Drapeau said students were just unwilling to park where it wasn't "convenient" for them.
Sophomore commuter Jacqueline Rivera voiced a different opinion.
"I don't feel like there's enough parking spaces," Rivera said. "The days that I come later, I have to park all the way over at the Ryan Center to even get a spot, even though I have a sticker and I have to get to work."
Rivera said she does not think the situation is any different than in previous years.
Part of Rivera's difficulty in finding spots may be attributed to an assignment change in certain parking spots. Parking Services has added 90 spaces to those allotted for residents, taking these spaces from the commuter section of the Keaney lot.
