Solution
to the parking problem
Students and faculty complain about parking
at the beginning of every semester. This
gets really old really fast, especially
for those who have heard the same whining
year after year. This column will be the
first and last parking complaint of this
semester because the situation is not unbeatable.
I’ve found two ways to alleviate the pain
of trying to find parking. The easiest way
is to park at the Foundation Building. The
price is similar to a regular permit and
the walk to classes, not to mention finding
a space, is much easier. A limited number
of passes are issued, so buy one now.
Two semesters ago, I found a hidden land
of nothing but empty spaces for people like
me to leave their automobiles. Students
who park in the residential area near Palo
Verde Avenue will find tickets waiting for
them upon returning to their car. The city
made it convenient to allow non-residents
to park there, but only for an hour. With
most classes running at least one hour and
15 minutes, students should leave a check
for $25 on their windshield to save the
hassle of sending it through the mail.
Young people aren’t the smartest species
and parking enforcement knows this. Those
sent-from-hell-to-make-our-lives-miserable
traffic cops only make rounds on the first
few streets in these areas because that’s
where students park. I parked at the end
of a cul de sac every day until the lots
cleared up and never received a ticket.
I made sure to take everything out of my
vehicle that made me look like a student.
Appearing to be a visitor to someone’s house
was a sure-fire way of not getting noticed.
This added a total of five minutes to my
walk, but the extra time spent was well
worth knowing I wouldn’t have to fork over
my hard-earned money to the man.
The only people who should be allowed to
complain about campus parking are those
who live outside of Long Beach. Anyone who
lives in this city can find ways to get
to class without driving their cars. New
park and rides are available and things
called taxis and busses still exist. Bikes,
skateboards, scooters and even walking are
cheap and fun ways to be mobile and will
drop students off right in front of their
classrooms. These will take longer than
a car, but the extra time spent commuting
gives everyone more time doing important
things, like talking on their cell phones.
A third way to beat parking problems exists.
This is the most painful method and no one
wants to hear this, but it is the solution
to everyone’s crisis. Arrive early and don’t
just circle the first three rows for a spot.
Showing up 10 minutes before class and expecting
to get a front row space is unreasonable.
Don’t be one of those people who park in
the middle of a row and waits for a space
to open up. Park in the back of the lot
and walk. The world does not revolve around
you and the rest of us don’t want to squeeze
our way past your precious car. It’s bad
enough you’re in my way, but do you have
to play really bad music at a level people
in Lakewood can hear?
We all know those front row spaces are controlled
by a select few and regular guys like me
can’t get them anyway, so find an alternative.
From here on out, anyone I overhear bitching
about not finding a spot will be ticketed
by me for crimes against stupidity.
Ryan Ritchie is journalism major at Cal
State Long Beach.
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