The Bakersfield College parking lot has had its pros and cons over the past year and a half that I have been a student.
Although it seems very large in size, good parking spots are hard to find. Of course, there are going to be many cars to compete for good spots considering BC’s large population.
I, for one, have gotten the ridiculous parking ticket from campus public safety for parking without a daily permit or semester permit. Yet, the machine that dispenses parking permits has a sign that says, “out of order.” Why should I pay for a parking ticket when a daily permit is not available to me?
I have a student permit now, but there are so many loopholes around not getting a ticket from public safety that I’ve seen students make use of.
The “visitor parking” always seems to be filled with students visiting campus for their classes for the day. Also, when the permit dispenser is working, students use the same daily permit over and over again by simply flipping it over just to avoid the parking ticket.
My experiences of the BC parking lot haven’t always been negative. I laugh at the many Deja Vu coupons put on my window, which usually end up on the ground. Along with Deja Vu coupons, there is an array of debris on the ground. There are flyers, coupons, fast food bags, cups, bottles and glass. Ironically, there is a recycle center in the free parking lot.
While the parking lot itself has its flaws, I sometimes worry about the students driving in it. I have had my car hit twice in the BC parking lot. On both occasions, I was left to pay for the repairs because there was no note left to contact the person who hit me. What happened to driving etiquette or even common courtesy? Some people drive through the parking lot as if they’re in an action movie escaping a villain.
Students need to realize their surroundings in the parking lot so it can be safe for everyone.
The parking isn’t too bad, it needs some improvements, but it’s nothing I can’t live with for now.