With the start of the fall semester on August 26, students at Bakersfield College have expressed their concerns about parking at the Panorama Campus. Since the beginning of the school year, students have encountered many restrictions and challenges when it comes to parking.

One of those challenges is the undergoing construction project at Bakersfield College. Students were surprised and confused when entering parking lot P6 and seeing that it was converted into staff parking and were not made aware of it. This left many students scrambling for limited parking space due to the construction

“Main campus parking is an inconvenience to maneuver through considering I’d have to park nearly off campus to find a spot,” said BC student Miguel Aguilar.

Joseph Grubbs, the Executive Director of College Safety has stated that parking will continue to be limited and chaotic for at least the next two years while student housing and ag building projects are being completed. Grubbs is currently out of office until September 9th but is set to meet with the President of Bakersfield College, Dr. Jerry E. Fliger, to discuss alternative parking options to accommodate for the increased demand for parking.

Another challenge is students have raised concerns about feeling unsafe walking from their classes to their cars. As student Natalie Espinoza shared, “At night I have felt unsafe at the main campus especially because it was so dark with no light. I wasn’t able to see my surroundings and that’s what made me feel unsafe whereas anything can occur or happen to me.” Grubbs advises both day and night students when it comes to walking back to their cars from campus to “walk in pairs is probably the biggest advantage.” Additionally, “We are adding lights in P16 (baseball) parking lot.”

Many students have also felt unsafe during day classes because of how fast students are driving in the parking lots. Students have spoken about possibly installing speed bumps to ensure that everyone, both drivers and students, stay safe.

The parking situation at Bakersfield college has had a significant impact on students. It is important for administration to work with students to find an effective solution. By addressing these challenges, it will create a more positive and safer environment for all students and staff.