Parking proves a challenge for MU students
Story and photo by Eran Shelby, posted Sept. 28, 2009

For most college students, transportation and parking on the MU campus is a touchy issue. Decisions are made to best suit the students’ individual lifestyles, whether they live on or off campus.

Students who live on campus may have everything they need nearby, but for those who choose to live off campus, they have the option of driving to campus or taking a shuttle from their off-campus housing. 

Nikki Taylor, a sophomore biology-education major from St. Louis, is a commuter student who chooses to shuttle to campus from her apartment complex. Taylor said the best part about using the shuttle service is saving money by not having to park at a meter or pay for gas.

Students use the shuttle system at Campus Lodge Apartments.

“If I don’t drive to campus, I don’t have to purchase a parking permit to park on campus,” Taylor said.

Jim Joy, director of MU’s parking and transportation services said, “The commuter system is cheaper but not as convenient.”

Taylor said the worst part about using the shuttle service is that the bus schedule becomes irregular at night.

“It makes commuting difficult if I have a late class or late activity,” she said.

Joy said parking and transportation services sells about 4,000 parking permits each year. Students must submit applications for parking permits the semester before the permit is needed. Parking permits cost $18 per month for a surface lot and $21 for a garage spot, which adds up to about $80 to $105 per semester. The money spent on parking permits funds the parking system and bonds for the garages.   

Geni Howe, a junior social work major from Warsaw, Mo., purchased a permit this year. 

“If you drive and park on campus, the shuttle will bring you to the middle of campus and I don’t have to walk as far,” Howe said.  

She said it takes her less time to walk to class than those who live in Greek town or in neighborhoods close to campus.

“If my car is on campus I can leave whenever I want instead of waiting on the bus to take me home,” Howe said.

The worst part of driving to campus for Howe is getting up early, because the shuttle only comes to the parking lots at certain times.

 “If the bus is full, then I have to wait for another one to come get me which could make me late to class,” Howe continued.

Joy said students need to realize that the parking spot they get isn’t always going to be what they want. Joy also said student parking is determined by the number of semesters lived in the residence halls and class standing. He said full-time faculty have top priority over part-time faculty and staff. Joy also said teaching assistants have priority over graduate students who have priority over undergraduate students.

For more information, visit the MU Parking and Transportation Services’ Web site.

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