A new ban on-street parking near the Washington State University Vancouver campus seems to be achieving its desired effect, though not everyone is completely satisfied.
“I thought there was going to be a huge uproar,” said Kris Engle, the campus’ parking services supervisor.
Though she expected disgruntled on-street parkers to buy campus parking permits, “I haven’t seen any sales rush,” she added.
Parking on a handful of streets in the Mount Vista area near the campus’ Northeast 29th Avenue pedestrian entrance was restricted earlier this year. Residents had complained that students filled the roadways from morning to night, preventing them from using street parking spaces in front of their own homes.
Clark County commissioners implemented new restrictions after a survey made it clear campus neighbors were willing to sacrifice their own on-street parking to rid the streets of cars that arrive from elsewhere and stay all day long.
The new rule bans street parking along Northeast 147th, 148th and 150th streets between Northeast 26th and 29th avenues, and Northeast 26th Avenue between 147th and 148th streets. It is in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.
“Initially, we heard from students,” said Engle, emphasizing the word “heard.”
Since then, though, the issue seems to have been settled. Most students interviewed on campus last week were either unaware of the ban or said they were mostly unaffected.
“It seems like it’s harder to find spots on campus,” said Andrew Cole, a parking-permit holding junior.
There are a few who grumble about the high cost of permits, said Andrea Gorby, a 22-year-old biology major. Annual on-campus parking permits cost at least $125, and as much as $225, depending on the parking lot, according to the WSUV website.
Campus neighbors say their streets have been quiet since the restrictions went into effect.
“I’ve been very surprised at how little traffic there’s been,” said Dan Richard, who lives on Northeast 147th Street.
At least one household, however, has dealt with some unintended consequences.
Sandra Griffin, who also lives on 147th Street, said she has to park her car down the street during restricted hours. A trailer fills her home’s driveway and two other cars have laid claim to the garage.
She said the quieter streets have been nice, but called the ban’s net impact negative.
“It’s a public street,” Griffin said. “Anybody should be able to park on it.”
Corey Roberts, a WSUV student, said he understands the complaints of homeowners tired of seeing their streets lined with cars. The restrictions, though, make things more challenging for Roberts and other students who can’t afford the extra cost of parking.
So Roberts, now days from graduation, got both creative and in better physical shape.
“I have to park a half-mile away some days,” said Roberts, who will finish with a major in anthropology and a minor in psychology.
So what does he do?
“Sometimes I bring my bike,” he said, adding that he loads it into the back of his self-described “beater,” a 1980s model light blue Subaru. “That’s when I’m down at, like, 144th.”
