Student parking is among the most significant logistical issues facing college campuses currently. After all, most of us have at least one experience wherein parking reasonably close to our courses was a costly nightmare, if not entirely impossible.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to improve student parking on college campuses, and we’ve taken the time to explain a few of these methods in our brief guide.
Keep Track of Parking Availability
No doubt, we live in the digital era, and with that comes numerous technological perks. One of which is advanced tracking technology that helps campuses document their parking availability in real-time. How? The whole thing is pretty simple. All that’s needed are smart sensors in each parking area.
The campus can then use these sensors to collect data on which parking spots are available and which are not. Faculty can then display the data around campus through illuminated signs that connect to the sensors. These displays can also list the names of different parking areas and show the exact number of available spaces.
This means that students will never have to guess whether or not there will be a parking space available for them. As a result, they can plan and locate appropriate parking each day. Moreover, it could also help manage overcrowding in specific parking areas if students know of nearby alternatives.
Encourage Driving Alternatives
Another way to improve student parking on college campuses is by encouraging alternatives to driving, like biking, walking, or taking a scooter. Of course, driving remains the most comfortable and popular mode of transportation. But it’s not always necessary for everyone, especially those with a short commute.
Thus, an excellent strategy is pushing students to use a bike or walk to campus rather than driving. You can do this by investing in bike lanes across campus. You can also develop bike or scooter parking areas. Doing so prevents precious parking areas from filling too quickly or becoming overcrowded.
As a result, students who need the parking space can find it—the students who don’t still get what they need and make it to their classes on time. Plus, fewer cars means fewer emissions, so you’ll be doing the planet a favor as well.
Invest in Automated Parking
This guide wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention the advantages of automated parking systems for all of your campus’s parking needs. Of course, these car lift solutions are most effective for campuses where parking issues are severe enough to warrant investment in a long-term solution.
But if your campus fits the bill, mechanical parking lift systems and other similar car lift solutions are an excellent choice. These systems’ stacking capabilities allows them to triple or even quadruple the amount of available parking space. On top of that, they’re automated and secure, so there’s less chance of theft or unintentional damage.
Of course, your students will always have a safe place to park their cars for the day with a car lift solution in place. Thus, if you’re looking for ways to improve the available parking on your campus, automated parking is a great solution. And if you’re in the market for one of these systems, Harding Steel has what you need. Don’t hesitate to give us a call!