0
0
By Dean Mayorga / Staff Writer
Vacancy (Kimberly Martinez / Staff Photographer)
By Dean Mayorga / Staff Writer
Imagine 400 available parking spaces that were untouched by other students.
How would this assist you in your parking struggles?
Would you take advantage of such a facility?
Fortunately, Riverside City College has made this into a reality with the new Lot 33. Located on Third Street and Market Street, the lot has had a dramatic impact on the students who know about it.
So far, this group of students has proven to be somewhat exclusive. Very seldom is the lot ever full.
On Feb. 25 only one third of the lot was occupied.
“This is the most I’ve ever seen it filled,” said student Anna Tower.
Parking services member Henry Funderburk thinks the lot is a hidden treasure.
“It’s a great lot and you know, hardly anybody uses it,” he said.
Funderburk pointed out that RCC has 26 different locations for parking.
“The big problem is students don’t use other lots,” he said.
The lack of knowledge of the student body for the new space and the disinterest of students to find alternative parking all serve as reasons to why Lot 33 is one of the campus’ most recent best kept secrets.
Shuttles arrive every 15 minutes, with an average transport time of 15 to 20 minutes. On any given day there is a good chance that spaces are available.
However, the news is spreading and there are some who feel that Lot 33 might lose its reputation as the lot that can always offer parking.
“It’s a gradual growth,” said Mike Campbell, a shuttle driver for RCC. For someone who witnesses the activity throughout the day, it’s apparent to Campbell that the students are becoming educated on the situation.
Ultimately, the results of this pilot program have seemed to be mostly positive when looking at the satisfaction of students, as well as the administration.
Many feel that it is an obligation of RCC to provide parking.
“Were trying to accommodate students, staff and faculty who have been displaced,” said April Morris, parking administrative clerk.
Morris cited the closure of Lot A as well as half of Lot B. She also mentioned the new nursing and life science buildings as possible reasons to the growing congestion.
“We should help (those displaced) to the best of our abilities,” she said.
These sentiments are shared by students as well.
Deeply affected by the recent construction, parking has become a daily issue.
“You can’t expect (students) to attend college if there’s no feasible way to get there,” said Mike Reyes, a student at RCC. “Sometimes I didn’t even find a parking space. I’d have to walk.”
Due to the fact that this is a pilot program, it remains unclear how long it’s going to take for more students to utilize the new space leased by RCC.
It has yet to be occupied in its full capacity on a regular basis.
For those who are aware, there is a sense of enjoyment in being a limited group said student Mughees Bhatti.
“It’s good for us,” she said.
