Imagine walking down a busy street every morning with speeding cars in your surroundings, unpredictable traffic, and the occasional construction hazard just to get to school. For many students at The Columbus School, this is what they live every day. By being unable to park on campus, students are forced to park off-campus, putting their safety at risk.

The issue of student parking is a growing concern among students and parents. With no designated student parking lot on campus, students must find parking on nearby streets, exposing them to dangerous road conditions, potential accidents, and even the risk of having their vehicles ticketed or taken away. In interviews with students Julieta Velez and Paulina Hurtado, they expressed their frustrations and concerns over this problem. Implementing an on-campus parking lot for students could significantly improve their safety and reduce daily stress.

One of the primary concerns of parking off-campus is the hazardous conditions students face while walking to school. Julieta Velez a 10th-grade student explained how her parents worry about her safety.

“My parents do have concerns about me having to park off campus because they think it’s really dangerous for us to have to walk up to school in the middle of a very busy road where people drive very fast,” Velez said. “They’re terrified that one of us will get run over or taken, it’s a very dangerous atmosphere for students.”

Beyond the danger of fast-moving traffic, off-campus parking has also led to students experiencing unsafe conditions, especially during road construction.

“I accidentally stepped onto the road that had asphalt in it, and I was wearing rubber shoes. The rubber started melting it was a terrible experience,” Vélez said.

Additionally, the lack of a designated parking area leads to logistical issues, including tardiness and congestion.

“Campus parking is really bad when there’s traffic. If we had on-campus parking, we wouldn’t have to walk one or two miles just to get into school, which would be a lot easier for students and help with the school’s tardy policies,” Velez added.
The dangers of off-campus parking don’t end with unsafe road conditions. Paulina Hurtado, a 10th-grade student talked about another big issue which is students receiving parking tickets or even having their cars taken away.

“Sometimes the police may take your car because some students are parking in the street, and they can come and give you a ticket or take your car. That’s the biggest challenge,” Hurtado said.

The current parking situation also causes disruptions to students’ education. Hurtado also said that students sometimes have to leave class to move their cars when the police arrive to give fines.

“If you count the time, you take about 20 minutes to go down, move your car, and then return to class. So, you take about half the class just to go and move your car,” Hurtado said.

Additionally, Hurtado highlighted the lack of security for students as they walk from their off-campus parking spots to school.

“The only security we have is a guard that just greets you in the morning and closes the door at eight a.m. He doesn’t do anything to protect students who are walking in unsafe areas outside of school,” Hurtado said.

Students not being able to park in school presents risks to students, from hazardous road conditions to lost learning time. Providing students with a parking area inside the school grounds would improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, and eliminate many of the concerns expressed by students and parents. Schools must take action to prioritize student safety by implementing a structured parking system.