In the course of looking for a parking spot, many Bakersfield College students who do not have a semester long parking permit have to buy a daily parking permit for $1 at the permit kiosks.
But at the beginning of the semester, many students were greeted at the kiosks by an “out of service” sign or by the LED screen reading “printer offline.” Some have even had their dollars eaten or refused.
This has led many to wonder if there are any plans to replace or repair the faulty machines, numbering five in total.
“We just bought these machines almost one year ago,” Pubic Safety Sgt. Chris Counts said. “We’ve called the company to come down and take a look at the machines. They should be here next week to find out what is wrong with the machines.”
In the case of a permit dispenser malfunctioning, it should be known that daily parking permits are universal and not lot specific. A permit purchased in the northeast parking lot on Panorama Drive and Mount Vernon Avenue can be used in the southeast or southwest parking lots on University Avenue. If a student has received a citation and feels that it is unwarranted, there is an appeals process.
“At the bottom of the citation there is a website, www.scapay.com,” Counts said. “From that website students need to fill out the information requested and e-mail it in.”
As an alternative to buying parking permits, whether daily or semester long, BC offers free parking.
“The free parking area is located from the corner of Haley and University, by the baseball fields that are being constructed to the barricades that are placed,” Counts said. “Some people think that the whole southwest lot is free parking, but that is not true.”
Some students have voiced concerns that the free parking area is less safe and darker than the rest of the parking areas.
“The nighttime guards patrol the area each night,” Counts said. “There have been no incidents that I can remember that would justify worry.”If desired, Public Safety officers will escort students to their cars at night for safety and peace of mind.
Some students are fed up with the parking situation at BC. Michael Hooper, a BC student, said that “the school should have designated parking areas for different levels of students . an area for full-time students only and one for students enrolled in less classes.”
“I don’t know if there is much that the school can do,” Trevor Goldberg, a BC student said. “Except build another lot, but there would be no place to build it. As things are right now, I have to park down by the stadium almost every day.”