Motorcycles lack sufficient parking
Increased use of motorcycles and scooters on campus has led to a shortage of bike parking spaces, said Casey Chappell, a senior majoring in aviation technology, who rides his motorcycle daily to school.
“Utah State doesn’t have very good motorcycle parking,” Chappell said. “Every day they have bad parking problems.”
Jared Turner, senior majoring in aviation maintenance and management, said he also rides his motorcycle to school because “it’s a heck of a lot cheaper.”
Turner said in previous years parking his motorcycle was more convenient.
“I used to be able to park right by all the buildings I wanted to go to,” he said, “but not this year, because there are a lot more scooters.”
James Nye, assistant director for USU Parking and Transportation, said they have added 40 motorcycle parking spots this year, in six different parking lots, in response to the increased use of motor bikes on campus, and are also looking into adding more temporary motorcycle parking stalls.
“They have done pretty good with parking in front of the Technology building, they have added a lot, but if you go down to the Natural Resources building, there is no parking,” Turner said. “You have to show up at 7:30 to get a spot.”
Nye said parking is always looking at changing things, particularly with temporary motorcycle parking stalls.
“The hard thing with additional motorcycle parking is that from November to March and April, we need vehicle stalls, so that’s why we do a lot with the temporary stalls, because come November, everyone will say there isn’t enough parking stalls,” Nye said.
In addition to temporary parking solutions, Lisa Leishman, director for USU Parking and Transportation, said parking has allowed USU faculty and staff to put a hologram sticker on their permits, which helps differnetiate between faculty and staff motorcycles and student motorcycles.
“This helps because it takes faculty and staff out of those motorcycle spots, making them available to students,” Leishman said.
While changes have been made, Chappell said he still struggles to find parking spots for his motorcycle.
“If I can’t find a spot I go park at the toaster church, or you can park in the overflow at the stadium and ride the bus up, but it’s really frustrating when I have paid for a pass and there aren’t any spots,” Chappell said.
Leishman said students can park in the stadium in any regular parking space if they have purchased a $20 motorcycle parking pass.
“It’s a big university. We should be able to park on campus or close to campus, we shouldn’t have to waste time finding a parking spot, or riding the shuttles,” Chappell said. “I think if you pay for a parking pass, you should be able to have somewhere to park, and not have to wonder if you have a parking spot for a pass you paid for.”
Leishman said students can talk to anyone at parking if they have questions, or would like to know more about motorcycle parking options. The Parking and Transportation offices are located just north of the Student Wellness Center and share a building with Campus Police.
-lindsay.anderson@aggiemail.usu.edu