Parking in Bowling Green remains one part of campus life students have the most trouble figuring out.

There isn’t enough parking close to campus, leaving some students to have to walk a long way to where they want to go. There are students who wish there was closer parking, and some who are completely fine with the parking on campus in its current state.

Then there are the differences between commuter parking lots and regular student lots and how students need to make sure they are watching which parking lots they are going in. A map of where students are allowed to park is on the Parking Services section of the University website. At the time this article was written, both the commuter and regular student parking passes are the same price, $68 for one semester and $115 for the whole year.

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Regular student parking has a couple of options close to the University for students to park at. The lot next to WBGU-TV is the closest to the middle of campus and is called Lot 15.

Next is Lot 12, where most of the students with a regular student parking passes park, due to the many spaces in the lot.

The commuter student parking spaces are more spread out but do offer more variety in terms of places to park. There is a closer spot right in front of the hockey arena, which is Lot 10. Then, in front of and next to Lot 12 are Lots 1, 5, 16 and 18, which are all for commuter pass holders.

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Nathan Buswell, a resident of the off-campus apartment complex, The Edge, and senior digital arts major, said he usually parks near the art building on the east side of campus. He also said, “There should be closer parking closer on the west side of campus for students.”

Jewel White, a graduate student at the University, said parking is fine as it is. 

“I think parking on campus isn’t as bad as people make it out to be,” she said. “As long as you have your pass and are paying attention to the designated areas you can park there won’t be any issues. However, I will say that it makes things a lot easier if you follow the instructions listed because I’ve avoided all issues of ticketing. Now I live off campus so having a pass isn’t a big concern to me.”

The system of parking at the University is something students have wanted changed or at least alleviated in some way. It doesn’t look like it will, but making sure to follow the rules and knowing where to park will help students avoid parking tickets.