One phrase can sum up Baker's walking and parking situations: a pain in the butt. <br/>The Living and Learning Center created more than a financial problem &#8211; it eliminated walkways and chunks of parking.The Living and Learning Center created more than a financial problem – it eliminated walkways and chunks of parking.
The Living and Learning Center created more than a financial problem – it eliminated walkways and chunks of parking.
Someone in charge looked at the completed building and decided sidewalks and parking were technicalities.
A mulch path became the desperate attempt to fix forgotten sidewalks, but after fall thunderstorms, winter snows and spring showers, a brown, mucky mess is all that remains.
I would like to see some administrators’ sidewalks removed and replaced with mulch. I bet we would see cement poured within the first week of wet weather.
Granted, students can walk around the oddly placed building, but many are already driving in circles looking for parking spots.
Professors can’t expect students to get their homework done when they’re all walking or driving circles around campus.
When I toured Baker’s campus before my freshman year, I was spoon-fed information on how the small campus is so convenient.
I heard testimony after testimony about how nice it is to have less than a five minute walk anywhere on campus, and how, unlike big, public universities, I wouldn’t have to struggle to find a place to park.
If the problems aren’t fixed, those perks should be taken out of Baker’s list of selling points along with affordable tuition and off-campus living options.
Inadequate space is not the only parking problem. I continually see people parked crooked enough to take up two spaces.
This is not acceptable. I don’t care how much of a hurry you were in, how drunk you were or how much your car cost. Park between the lines.
I try to park in the small lot on the west side of the apartments. The lot is a tiny spot between a random house and the elementary school. Maneuvering is at a minimum.
Every day I either drive or walk through the lot and every day I see one white Eclipse parked over the lines. The scenario never fails, and it baffles me.
How could one person be so oblivious to the inconvenience? How hard is it to park between the two white lines?
While some are parked in two spots, others have to resort to parking in a muddy ditch or on the grass.
Several people have been warned by university security to not park near or on a sidewalk, while tickets have been issued to others by the Baldwin City Police Department.
I’m sure the students who received warnings or tickets appreciate the people who park in two spots and receive nothing.
The problem needs to be fixed.
The first step to alleviating some parking pressure is to dish out tickets to people ignoring the painted guidelines. If a car is parked over the lines, issue a ticket.
The idea is simple. People won’t stop abusing the rules unless there are repercussions.
Long-term plans need to be set in place as well. I understand the university is in a financial crunch right now, but crappy parking and muddy walkways are only going to discourage prospective students.
If cement is too expensive, purchase large stepping stones. Any substance that can survive Kansas elements would suffice. The walkway problem is a pretty easy fix.
Solutions for the parking situation become a little more difficult.
The plans allotted space for students to live but forgot all those students had to get to the university.
An idea for more parking should have been sketched into the building plans, so reversing the problem is a harder process. It’s definitely an issue worthy of attention.
I know the university can’t make every part of campus perfect, but sidewalks and parking lots seem to carry some importance.