Students in pickle over parks Author: By BRETT COX Date: 25/03/2008 Publication: Illawarra Mercury
THE internet is being used by University of Wollongong students to air grievances over the state of parking on and around their main campus.
Almost 600 students have joined groups on social network website Facebook since classes began in late February.
One group, called "Maybe if I join this group, UOW will finally do something about parking!" has 527 members.
Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association president Chris Pettett said delays finding parking were causing traffic to bank up along the F6 in the morning near the university and on connecting streets to the freeway in the afternoons.
The 2800 on-campus parking spaces and surrounding streets filled up quickly each day.
But Mr Pettett said the heart of the problem was revealed in a poll taken by the association that found 44 out of every 60 cars had only one occupant.
He will meet the university to discuss parking but believes the answer is for more students to take public transport, ride bikes or car pool.
"I also think there's value in having incentives for people to stay at university later, maybe to have dinner there, so everyone isn't leaving at once," he said.
The RTA has widened the F6 to provide a continuous extra lane between the intersections at Old Mt Ousley Rd and University Ave. The new lane will allow motorists turning left out of Old Mt Ousley Rd onto the F6 and left into University Ave from the F6, to do so without mixing with through traffic, an RTA spokeswoman said.
Director of buildings and grounds at the university, Bruce Flint, said there was regular congestion on roads at the start of the year but it generally died down as students got to know the area and reverted to public transport.
All new students were given information on transport routes and a shuttle bus was operating from North Wollongong Station, he said.
The RTA spokeswoman said: "This increase in morning traffic usually lasts for three to four weeks. During the first few weeks of the university term, traffic controllers have been on site to manage traffic at Irvine St, University Ave and Old Mt Ousley Rd.
"Electronic message signs on the F6 have also advised motorists to use local roads to ensure both the western and eastern car parks of the university are accessed equally."
COMMENTS FROM UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG STUDENTS ON FACEBOOK
? We need another multistorey car park on campus. There's a few places you could put it. You could convert the western, south-western or the northern car park. A new multistorey car park would pay for itself in the parking fees that it collects.
? The idea that public transport is an option for anyone not living in Wollongong is a joke. For a 10.30am lecture, to make sure I get there, I must leave at 6.50am. I might not get home until 4pm or 5pm, making holding a job impossible. This session has already cost me my job.
? Tuesday was ridiculous! I missed a class because I was in line for over 45 minutes."
? Fair enough, just wondered if it came to anyone's mind to car pool. Yeah parking is shocking (I went to the garden party last Thursday) maybe you could talk about what times you go to uni and start car pooling. It would save the environment, money, car spots and it might even catch on with the rest of the uni?
? I'm hearing you people. It sort of came to a head the other day when it took me longer to drive around finding a park than it did for the 45-minute drive up. And does anyone else notice that we must have at least 10 rangers for our square kilometre of uni?
? It's a bit hard to cycle when you live in Kiama. Train is a nightmare too. I've got an idea. UOW could just make another car park like they should because they keep taking more people each year.