Every weekday, when I wake up, I dread it. I bargain with myself, trying to find a way to get out of it. Without a doubt, it will be one of the worst parts of my day.
No, I’m not talking about going to class.
I’m talking about parking in a commuter lot.
I’ve lived on campus for all three of my years at Ferris, so in the past, I haven’t driven to class. However, I’m currently recovering from a broken leg, so I can’t exactly walk to class at the moment. Thus, I’ve received a pass that allows me to park in commuter lots, which I haven’t been able to do previously.
Up until I began driving to class, the only problem with the parking lots I’d considered involves the lack of parking spaces. Yeah, OK, it’s a problem, but it’s not my problem.
My problem is with how recklessly students drive in commuter lots in pursuit of a spot.
I wish someone would have warned me of this before I had to face it firsthand. Then again, what good would a warning have done? It’s a jungle out there, and there’s really no way I could have prepared myself for such pandemonium.
On my first day of driving myself to class, I turned left into Lot 37 — the parking lot by the Business Building — naïve and unaware of the mayhem I was about to encounter.
It was like the first few minutes of “The Hunger Games.” It was every man for himself. Cars are driving way too fast, whipping around corners and nearly causing collisions. Drivers are racing each other to claim a recently vacated parking spot. Pedestrians are frantically moving toward a sidewalk to avoid being hit. Horns are honked, middle fingers are flipped. In the distance, sirens.
It appears all manners and awareness of proper driving etiquette are thrown out the window once a student turns into a Ferris commuter lot. If I didn’t know better, I’d think monkeys were driving the cars. I’ve seen toddlers operate Barbie Jeeps better.
Listen, I get it. Good, open parking spaces are tough to find, and when you lay your eyes on one, you want to do everything you can to make it yours.
OK, fine, but at what cost? Would you rather risk crashing your vehicle to be 15 feet closer to the building? There are some crazy drivers navigating the Ferris parking lots, and it appears they are more concerned about finding a spot than ensuring their own safety.
It’s fine if you’re not considerate of yourself or your car. I can’t make you care about whether your vehicle gets destroyed.
However, I honestly believe drivers should think twice about driving crazily, considering they are endangering others. All for a stupid parking spot.
The next time you commute to campus, be a little more considerate of your surroundings. If possible, try leaving a few minutes earlier to have a better chance at getting a spot. When coming around corners, yield and make sure you won’t hit another car when you turn.
I’ve only been driving to my classes for about a month, and I’m exhausted by the situation. I hate being anxious over getting in a car accident in a parking lot or having to constantly slam on my brakes to avoid one. I can only imagine how annoyed the regular commuters must feel.
Guys, it’s not that deep. A parking spot is a parking spot. Ferris does not have a very large campus, so it’s unlikely you’ll have to walk that far to get to class.
Finding good parking is not worth getting into an accident. Stop driving like it is.