In a Time Crunch for Parking, Use Strategy

In a Time Crunch for Parking, Use Strategy
Shannon Foley

The Writer’s Corner illustrates the personal insights of George Mason University’s students in Broadside. We are seeking creative nonfiction stories about students, their lives, and their experiences.
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The aim of the game is simple: find a parking space. How to play the game? That’s the hard part. As I leave my house, I check the green digits of the clock in my car to make sure that I have fifteen minutes of extra time to find a spot. I am always right on time when I race into the George Mason University campus with high hopes of winning the perfect parking space. Usually I can find a spot in the back, but I love the thrill of the game—finding the space at the front of the parking lot. I know that I cannot just enter one of the many parking lots and find a good space right away. I must have a strategy. In order to win any game, each competitor must have a strategy. But when each competitor has the same strategy, I’m in a stalemate. With too many cars and too few spaces, the battle ensues into a race against my peers—my rivals of the road—and against time. Even with my strategy in mind, the game is not constant and I cannot help but think that some of my opponents are just lucky.

The arenas are massive, black expanses that seem to go on forever. These expansions are the parking lots of George Mason University. When empty, the rectangular spaces illuminate, glowing in the black asphalt, and it looks as if there are a million spots; when beaming with activity, the lots are full with rainbows as the afternoon sun sparkles the paint of each car. As I pull into one of the parking lots, the orange cones and yellow tape indicate that part of it has been blocked off for construction. The difficulty of this game increases. I scan the multitude of color and my strategy sets in. I stalk one of the walkers to his or her car. If it is too far, I look for another traveler to swoop down on. They are everywhere. Like ants, they scurry to safety out of the way of the oncoming cars. I can’t find a space; I am getting desperate and my playbook is nearly out of moves. As I quickly glance at the clock the digits have morphed and the game is almost up.

I floor the acceleration and the colors blur, my hands shake, and my face boils as I race to an open space. As I approach my trophy, I realize that, for some reason, my greatest opponents are in the larger cars—especially SUVs. Maybe it’s because I drive a small car and I fear a one on one duel with the giants of the road. Whatever the reason, I avoid the conflict. Irritation is burning up my patience and my heart pounds as I look for another clearing in the line-up. My mouth dries and anxiety sets in. I’m going up and down the same aisles over and over, my head is spinning, and I keep seeing my same rivals pass me frantically. Frustration rises in me and now the car is very warm. I go to turn on the air conditioner, but to my displeasure, I seem to be low on gas. Driving around all the lots really takes a toll on my fuel gauge. I roll down the window and the smell of exhaust fumes blows in with an eruption of unbearable noise. There are motors running, there are people talking, and there are horns honking. The smell and noise is in my car, and I wonder how much longer I have to endure this. I panic, it’s almost time for class, and I now remember that my clock is slow.

The green digits of the clock tell me that if I don’t find a spot soon I will be late for class. It is a battle royal not only with the other commuters, but also with time. I feel helpless and I feel that the situation is completely unfair. The deck is stacked against me. I may search for twenty minutes for a parking space while another rival may find one in five minutes. Before I can rethink my strategy I realize that time is too precious, and I still have to walk all the way to class. I just may have to resort to overtime. I’m going to have to take last place in this game: a space in the very back of the parking lot where the foliage flourishes.

As I make my way to class, I think about the game I just played. It’s harder than it seems, for every time I enter the battle, the techniques and skill levels are always different. Some days I have many challengers; other days there are only a few. Furthermore, when I watch each opponent search for his or her own prize, I see that luck might just be a huge part of this sport. Perhaps there is no real strategy that ensures a win. Maybe it is just the luck of the draw and being in the right place at the right time.

Reader Responses

try parking
05 Dec 2007, 00:48

next to the field house. the lot is always empty and it's a quicker walk to the library from the field house lot than it is from the back of lot K. I starting parking in the field house lot this semester and quickly realized it's better than most lots on campus.

Chris
10 Dec 2007, 00:05

It's nice to know that GMU continues to build more buildings and increase the number of people here...all while decreasing the number of parking lots.

Maybe they could bring the existing infrastructure up to speed before adding all this extra stuff. That would make too much sense though.

GMU92
12 Dec 2007, 16:14

Interesting to read that not much has changed in this regard since my time at Mason (1988-1992).

Fear not...you desperately need the infrastructure of additional parking, but what you will receive is an Italian Renaissance Opera House in a corn field in Manassas. 'Tis the Mason way.

GMU Parking & Transportation
17 Dec 2007, 13:10

First of all-enjoyed the article.

2nd-I back the suggestion of parking by the Field House-always has spaces and starting in Spring we'll have a shuttle that runs from the FH to the CUE bus stop on a continual loop to help people get back and forth if they don't want to walk.

3rd-Parking Deck III in Lot F is already underway that will have 1650 spaces and we just received authorization to build Phase II of this deck(extending into Lot G) to add another 1100 spaces-our net from this is 1400 spaces. Originally Phase II was not scheduled for several years-we will save several million dollars by building the Phase II now. The deck will be opened prior to Housing VIIC(in Lot E) being opened, prior to the future Admin building in Lot G, and prior to the future Academic VII building in Lot H.

4th-Also we have tentative plans to build more parking this summer by the West Cmpus lot and also add spaces to Lot K, A, and I.West Campus lot is also being paved. These additions will add about another 800 spaces.

Chris
17 Dec 2007, 18:57

Ok, so let's have students try and cross route 123 at night with the cars whizzing by. It's amazing no one has been hit recently. An increase in foot traffic will guarantee a pedestrian being struck.

And for parking services to post on here saying the new parking deck is 'well underway' is a crock. It'll be mininum 2 years before that's done, and you already have 4-5 new housing buildings up. Lot E isn't big, Lot F is, and the new deck isn't going to be built before the flood of new people for the new buildings.

Let's keep trying to get more and more money out of people, keeping things rough while they're here. How are you adding spaces to Lots A, K, and I? I hope this suggestion is heeded: Let's not repeat the mistake made years ago like in F and E, let's NOT take 8 inches from the width of each space. I'd like to keep my doors from being dinged every single day. Do it the right way, not the short and wrong way.

GMU Parking & Transportation
17 Dec 2007, 22:44

About crossing Rt123 if you read what was written above you'll see:"starting in Spring we'll have a shuttle that runs from the FH to the CUE bus stop on a continual loop to help people get back and forth if they don't want to walk"-i.e you don't have to walk. You can also catch the West Campus shuttle as well. I realize it is a busy intersection-we are also working with VDOT and the County as they control the intersection to see if a dedicated pedestrian crossing can be put in similar to what was installed on Braddock.

Then I said the deck was already underway, not "well underway". The deck will be open in March 2009-that's about 15 months, not 2 years. Yes it will be after the Housing VII opens as that project received authorization from the state before the deck did-but it will be open before Housing VIIC.

We fully realize parking costs a lot, but we do try to keep costs down as the fees charged just cover expenses. As its been stated in comparing to other schools of our size we're in the mid range for fees although we will increase to pay for the deck as most schools are facing as well. But with the higher fees we will continue to offer lower cost parking such as west campus and also provide the transportation options such as the shuttles and CUE which keeps growing in ridership.

The added spaces are being put in by building out such as along Mattaponi Rd in Lot A or in K in the area towards Braddock-the spaces in E,F and elsewhere are the standard 8.5 feet wide-they used to be 9 before I got here but they're still the standard found anywhere.

Logic McReason
23 Jan 2008, 22:58

Notice the advertisement posters in your classroom?

Notice the advertisement billboard being the first thing visitors see using the main entrance?

Notice the garbage vendors try to sell on your walks between classes?

Notice how the JC has been almost completely sold out?

Notice how vendors try to sell you overpriced rings and other garbage IN THE BOOK STORE?

Notice how GMU has sold out to iTunes U while textbook prices continue to rise?

GMU WILL PEDDLE ANYTHING TO MAKE A BUCK!

I agree with Mr. McReason..
24 Jan 2008, 18:56

Yes, the current parking fiasco is a good indication of how this institution feels about providing a quality educational environment. I don't know how the University justifies its tuition costs when, because of the overpriced, inadequate parking services, a student can't make it to class on time after having been on campus for 30 minutes.
From the non-transferable credits, to the shoddy 3rd-party online education tools, this University has established itself as a purely profit-making institution. Its ambitious plans for future expansion, without any consideration for the inconveniences it has imposed on the students, is a clear indication of their motives.
This has prompted me to discourage its education to any prospective student. Patriot? Huh.. I guess the Universities' definition of this term is consistent with that of the Federal Government's..for good reason..

Notice how NOVA provides a much better quality of student services for a fraction of the costs?

GMU Parking & Transportation
28 Jan 2008, 17:02

Not sure what is meant by overpriced inadequate parking services but I can tell you that the fees are set to cover expenses of parking & transportation which includes millions in debt service on past construction and over $2 million a year on shuttle service. The fee is set as low as possible and still make enough revenue to make the program a break-even operation which it is-there's no profit in the parking operation-any surplus is reinvested on maintenance and construction-there hasn't been a surplus though for a few years as fees have not increased much while expenses have. Also when compared to institutions of our size and enrollment, our permit fees fall in the mid-range.

Lastly not sure where one tries to park where it takes them 30 minutes to get to class-now of course traffic can back up on the weay to campus and even around campus at certain times but if you don't waste time looking for parking in lots that are usually full and go to where parking is more likely to be available it takes less time. I know its further out, but if you go to the Field House, park there, catch the new Field House Express that comes by approximately every 10 minutes and takes you to the CUE stop, it won't take 30 minutes to get to class. You can also walk it from the Field House to the JC in 15 minutes. If you don't want to park there try Lot K first and walk to class-however as seen last week Lot K tends to fill up by 11am on Tues and Thurs-it didn't fill up M,W,F.

Long range as written about, a 2,750 space parking deck is underway to provide more close-in parking-that deck is under construction now and will be open by Fall 2009. This originally was 1650 spaces but Mason got permission to build Phase II of the deck and add another 1100 spaces now rather than wait a few years-this also saves several million dollars.

On-campus resident
30 Jan 2008, 10:25

As a junior who has been through the commuting and parking nightmare that is George Mason, I was very happy to finally be granted on-campus housing for this school year. The fact that Liberty and Potomac have their own gated lot was defintely a plus. I began to notice last semester that the lot would fill to capacity before 9pm every weeknight. I was forced to resort to my method of "stalking" people for spots once again like I was a commuter. Everytime this happened I asked myself, "If this lot is gated...why are there such a lack of parking spots?". Obviously, way more passes were sold to residents than there were available spaces. This semester, the problem has only gotten worse. The old method of sitting outside of the apartment just waiting for someone to leave doesn't work anymore.

Many of us have had to resort to parking in hash marked areas and wake up at 7am just to move our cars. I would really like to know how this problem has gotten soo out of hand. Logic tells me that you would sell enough passes to match how many spaces you have. I know that this situation in NO WAY equals what off-campus students have to go through everyday just to find a parking space, but I would like an explanation of why it is so hard to not sell over capacity.

Chris
30 Jan 2008, 18:41

Your lot is filled to capacity for the same reason others have already mentioned--because GMU would rather make a buck, and sell MORE passes than they have spaces. They assume you will just deal with it and they can get more revenue.

The fact is, the traffic situation at GMU is a complete disaster and it shows the poor intellect of those who run the entire institution. They put on those stupid grins and say, 'embark on your journey of learning'. Let's face it--there's no getting around it, GMU and its administration are full of crap. They want to put on a show as if everything here is so revolutionary. Just like Damon's Grill. They insist that its the first full-service restaurant on a college campus. Uhm, ever been to a big 10 school? And what's with the hours? But it's so revolutionary and just another plus to come to GMU.

GMU sounds good on paper, but when in person, it's one big, miserable lie.

Re: Parking & Transpo..
30 Jan 2008, 21:23

I imagine the new deck will have the "Deck Permit" costs to go with it? Not only to cover "maintenance", but to also contribute to the evergrowing caste system we're observing at this school?

Please tell me the ticket prices for Patriot Center events include costs for the "millions in debt service on past construction and over $2 million a year on shuttle service".

If not, perhaps Parking and Transpo should charge Patriot Center attendees a parking fee.

Ravi
01 Feb 2008, 14:02

Any word on when parking will be resolved this semester?

GMU Parking & Transportation
03 Feb 2008, 09:16

Re: Lot R, it's been a housing decision to not limit the number of permits sold to Potomac/Liberty residents. We have surveyed several times though to see what most would prefer and it's split-half would prefer to limit the permits sold, half prefer to keep as is. There are about 900 Lot R permits sold for 600 spaces-the permit does not guarantee a space in the lot nor has it ever. So on a given day, about 1 of every 3 has to park elsewhere(and hatched spaces are never legal parking)-but everyone has an equal chance. If we limited the permits sold, those who got one would have a space, but about 300 residents would never have a chance to park in Lot R rather than a 2/3 chance now-sounds good unless you're not chosen for a permit-why we normally see the split on what most prefer. If it changes to where most would prefer we limit the permits sold, we would.

As for the argument about selling more permits than spaces, clearly that has to be done or several thousand students would have to be told they cannot have cars-again a great idea unless you're one of those several thousand that now couldn't bring a car. Here and anywhere parking spaces turn over in the day-on average a space for a commuter student turns over 2-3 times per day/a resident student about 1.5 times per day. Now if we didn't have turn over, we would run out of spaces. We have not-yes some have had to park at the Field House but those are campus lots and there's a free shuttle 8-9 times per hour to get you back and forth. Those lots are needed as the east campus lots tend to fill up on Tues and Thurs b/c more take classes then-however this last Thurs Lot K still had several hundred spaces free. Even if the Field House lot fills, there is still another 800 spaces free between on Rapidan River Rd by the intramural fields and West Campus lot-both you can catch a free shuttle like the freshman residents have had to parking in West Campus lot. Yes you have to give yourself a bit more time but it works. So it's absolutely not true to say there aren't spaces or more permits were sold than could be accommodated. Someone mentioned being like a Big 10 school-well I grew up at THE Ohio State Univ and the west campus lot was about as close as you could park to the core of campus and here its our furthest out lot-same goes at PSU-most there park in remote lots and catch a shuttle 1-2 miles in. Park at the Field House here and it's a 5 minute bus ride to the main part of campus-that is often quicker than walking from the back of a lot on east campus-and at many times of the day will save you valuable minutes in traffic as Univ Dr doesn't back up into those lots like Patriot Circle can at times in between classes with hundreds leaving and hundreds coming into campus at the same time.

As for Patriot Center, part of the ticket price does go back to the University.

The new deck will have open spaces available to general lot holders and reserved levels for residents, to residents or commuters, and for fac/staff, as well as visitors-so it serves all.

Jessica
06 Feb 2008, 20:02

To the person posting emails for GMU parking services: you do not park at the Field House Parking lot. How do I know this? Because you lightly mention walking the short one mile distance to the campus. It is entirely uphill. George Mason does not plow this road, the City of Fairfax does and they don't do a great job, I have skidded on this road several times. The school does not shovel or salt the sidewalks, I have fallen there several times. The shuttle does leave there every ten minutes and then sits through the ten minute light at University and 123. It then drops you off at the Cue bus stop which is 1.5 miles away from Inovation, if you should happen to have a class there You have also neglected the fact that everyone walking the short distance (1 to 3 miles uphill) to campus is carrying the entire day's worth of books. I have been parking there for my entire GMU career as opposed to paying you for parking and now I am parked there next to people paying $180 for the same privilege. Why don't you park there for a week after it has snowed and then extole the virtues of this lot.

GMU Parking & Transportation
06 Feb 2008, 22:17

Well I do park at or catch the shuttle to the FH a few times a week so I do know what it is like. Last I checked, it hasn't snowed in 3 weeks and has snowed 2-3 times this year? Sure it might be more difficult when it snows, but what roads, lots, and sidewalks aren't when it snows? I drive 80 miles to work through mountains so I understand dealing with adverse road conditions when it snows.
If you are trying to get to Innovation I'd recommend catching the West Campus shuttle instead of the Field House Express-the West Campus shuttle will take you to Sandy Creek and from there you can just take the sidewalk between Enterprise and Research I and you're right at Innovation.

Chris
11 Feb 2008, 17:27

Wait until the circus comes to town in April.

They usually chop up about 1/4-1/3 of Lot A, plus all the traffic of multiple shows every day for about two weeks. You will NEVER find a spot on campus(oh, wait, I forgot about the uber-convenient west lot).

What then? Where will you cram cars into? How about instead of making excuses for parking services, you just simply say: there's no logic to any of this construction except that GMU is money-hungry and does anything it can to make a buck. In addition to thousands of people going to class, there are shows at the Patriot Center, Center for the Arts, and other events all happening simultaneously.

Perhaps the truly ethical thing to do instead of making these excuses, is to hang a sign up that says, "Closed for Renovations."

Jenn
12 Feb 2008, 13:23

You can try to justify all you want what Mason is doing to try and eliminate the parking issues, but the simple fact is Mason is greedy. If they would limit and put stricter admissions criteria in effect we wouldn't have such a booming student population causing more traffic trouble. And let's face it, a majority of Mason students are only on campus in the evenings, and when there's an event, parking is non-existent.
I have to be on campus by 3:40 if I want to even try to find parking for a 4:30 class. And by 4:25, if I can't find parking, I go home. And West parking, I don't pay $180 a year to make that walk, and the shuttle is useless if you have to stand outside with tons of books in the freezing cold. And you wonder why students are upset.
As for inadequate parking services, that's exactly what it is - inadequate. Signs are not clearly labeled or visible anymore, and it's hard to get someone on the phone if you call about a problem. And let me point on that in an emergency and I happen to have the need to park in the Mason Pond deck, do you know how nice it is when you go to check out and there's of cars a mile long to get out because the attendants are talking on their cell phones? You know at 10pm, I want to go home.
The whole GMU system (not just parking) is broken and it's causing major headaches and stress for those that are paying large sums of money to get an education. I will be happy when I am finally done...or I at least find another school to attend.

GMU Parking & Transportation
12 Feb 2008, 15:26

I agree that the growth does make things more difficult although it's not as simple as saying its about being money-hungry since the state also has wanted Mason to take on the growth in college enrollment statewide that other schools cannot take on. The construction is based on housing demand that exists currently, and needed academic and other space to meet current demands-in a sense a lot of the construction is playing catch-up.
Enrollment, construction, events, etc are not under parking's control, but as I have stated I am concerned and will do what I can to lessen the extent of the impacts. We will work with the circus to lessen the area they have-such as keeping their trailers out of K. Yes the Patriot Center does bring in revenue from the circus, but it also gives back to the University and keeps the student fee from increasing even more.We have kept construction workers from taking up prime parking in east campus lots and have forced them to the West Campus lot so students wouldn't lose more spaces closer in.
It's not a matter of justifying anything-it's a matter of balancing and managing many different interests of over 40,000 people-commuters, residents, faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, visitors. There is some surface parking hopefully being added this summer. Transportation alterntives continue to grow with shuttle ridership doubling in the past two years.
Realistically the biggest impact has to do with class scheduling. We are recommending that more classes be shifted from the Tues/Thurs peak(with 11am being the most crowded time slot) to Fridays-even a 10% offset could free up a 1000 spaces on a Tuesday. Also we are asking the Registrars office to look into adding more time in between classes as noted with the 4:30pm class, you have to arrive early, but at 3:40pm the 1:20pm class crowd hasn't left-if you can get more of a class break then you can get enough people to leave before the next class somes in and thus free up more spaces. Grad classes might have staggered start times from undergrad class times-then you don't have everyone leaving the deck at the same time. I'll talk to the staff about the calls although often the calls are coming in from other requests for assistance.
Sorry for the length-I do understand the frustrations involved as I deal with it like everyone else. I am committed to doing what I can to make an impact on parking and the other areas that frame it to improve. I've worked, gone to, and been at many other schools of Mason's size and everyone has similar issues-it's a matter of how its community adapts to change and makes the best of it that makes or breaks the university. The weather is going to be cold at times, it's not getting less busy although eventually as other campuses grow more classes shift to PWC and Arlington and lessens the Fairfax load a bit. More than anything else, it's important that people have the information to prepare themselves-that's the main reason I post and try to share what's involved in parking. I know not everyone will be happy, but at least the changes shouldn't catch people offguards.

Patriot
20 Feb 2008, 14:02

Maybe people should just live on campus instead of commuting like a freaking normal college!? Then Mason might be more fun. problem solved....

Expatriate
04 Mar 2008, 15:27

Patriot - Give me some of your parents' money and perhaps I will.