Whether living on or off campus, students have opinions about parking at UCCS. For some, purchasing a semester-long parking pass is the way to go. For others, the shuttle system is their preferred method of travel.
Five students share their opinions on campus parking and give advice to incoming students about how to get the best value out of the lots.
Nicole Podhirny (she/her/hers), junior biology major
Do you commute or do you live on campus?
I commute. I’m 46, mother of three, so I’ve got a family home that I come from.
Do you think the pandemic has made parking worse or better?
I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s affected parking, the parking’s always been kind of hard. I don’t think COVID has though, really, I mean they don’t pick up extra people on the bus because of COVID and that’s probably impacted other people.
Do you agree or disagree with the price of parking on campus? Why or why not?
It seems like it’s about the same price as when I went here 25 years ago. … Yeah, I guess it’s gone up a little bit. I think the closer parking is always going to have people fighting for parking spots around certain times of the day.
How long does it usually take you to find parking?
I’ve just been walking, which is nice. [The parking has] always been kind of cutthroat around certain times of the day, and that’s why I didn’t pay for parking up here. All of my peers had told me that they fight for parking around certain times of the day.
What advice would you give to incoming students regarding parking on campus?
The day before class starts — I always do this but I’m old school — park and then walk to class and see how long it takes you to walk there. Or take the bus and see how long it takes to get there. You don’t want to be late on your first day.
What are your thoughts on the shuttle system?
What’s funny is I went here 25 years ago before I had kids and I remember walking along a really pretty kind of road, even in the winter, from that dirt parking lot. The bus was kind of iffy back then, and now it seems like the bus is a little bit easier to take.
Exzavior Duncan (he/him/his), senior computer security major
Do you commute or do you live on campus?
I commute.
Do you think the pandemic has made parking worse or better?
I think parking has stayed about the same.
Do you agree or disagree with the price of parking on campus? Why or why not?
Disagree. I personally think the price for parking out here is just too high for just the zone and not even like a designated spot or anything like that. I understand this school is low on funds, but that is a pretty big price.
How long does it usually take you to find parking?
In these lots, at the most twenty minutes. In the free lots, if I end up going to all the free lots, it takes about ten to fifteen minutes, but that’s because I’m commuting between each one trying to find a space.
What advice would you give to incoming students regarding parking on campus?
The free parking is definitely more worth it than the paid parking.
What are your thoughts on the shuttle system?
I appreciate the shuttle system, but at times they can be inconvenient in how greatly spaced the times are.
Elly Johnson (she/her/hers), senior English secondary education major
Do you commute or do you live on campus?
I commute.
Do you think the pandemic has made parking worse or better?
Well this is the first year I’ve bought a parking pass, so I’m not really sure. I used to just walk.
Do you agree or disagree with the price of parking on campus? Why or why not?
I think it’s too expensive.
How long does it usually take you to find parking?
When I would drive with my roommate, it would take longer. I feel like now it’s not too bad because there’s a lot of online classes offered. I feel like it’s gotten better in terms that it doesn’t take me that long anymore to find a spot.
What advice would you give to incoming students regarding parking on campus?
If you can, live in the neighborhood across campus and walk. And don’t buy a parking pass.
What are your thoughts on the shuttle system?
It’s really efficient. I used that a ton freshman year and sophomore year. Especially if you live on one side of this neighborhood, you could just walk to the nearest shuttle stop and commute that way on campus.
Hayden Brice (he/him/his), sophomore human physiology and nutrition major
Do you commute or do you live on campus?
[I] commute to campus.
Do you think the pandemic has made parking worse or better?
I don’t think the pandemic affected parking in any way.
Do you agree or disagree with the price of parking on campus? Why or why not?
It kind of depends. I park down at the free lots, so I don’t mind the walk personally. To me, it’s a bit overpriced.
How long does it usually take you to find parking?
It takes relatively fast.
What advice would you give to incoming students regarding parking on campus?
Know where the lot is, first of all. Understand the price before you pay for it, or else you might have to walk twenty minutes. Just know your parking spot before you buy it.
What are your thoughts on the shuttle system?
I don’t use the shuttles.
Jacob Barela (he/him/his), senior mechanical engineering major
Do you commute or do you live on campus?
I commute.
Do you think the pandemic has made parking worse or better?
Better, because there’s not as many people here.
Do you agree or disagree with the price of parking on campus? Why or why not?
I probably disagree. It just seems kind of high for the area.
How long does it usually take you to find parking?
Not that very long.
What advice would you give to incoming students regarding parking on campus?
Add like 10 to 15 minutes to find a spot and get to class.
What are your thoughts on the shuttle system?
They’re very useful. This is my first semester not using them, just because my situation is different; I don’t have as much time to use them. But I frequently took advantage of them when I could.