Professor Abandons His Eternal Search for a Parking Space
Danford W. Middlemiss is done looking for parking at Canada’s Dalhousie University.
After waiting in line for more than an hour on Monday to purchase a parking pass — only to learn that all the passes had been sold and that he would have to return the next day — the political-science professor pulled the plug on his career of 31 years, according to an article on the CBC News Web site.
“I went straight upstairs, I said, ‘I’m not kidding this time, I don’t have to put up with this. I’m resigning,’” said Mr. Middlemiss.
Dalhousie, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, reportedly has 2,000 parking spaces for 17,000 students and 3,000 employees. It has traditionally oversold parking passes by 65 percent, meaning that they function more as hunting licenses than as parking permits. This year, however, the university was going to cap its overselling at 20 to 30 percent and add 200 guaranteed spots for motorists willing to pay a premium. Additionally, Dalhousie reportedly has long-term plans for more bike racks, bus passes for staff, and a large parking garage.
It’s all too little, too late for Mr. Middlemiss, who said he always had to leave his home 10 miles away in Lower Sackville by 7 a.m. in order to be assured of finding parking before his 2:30 p.m. class. He said that he’d also tried parking in a Metro Transit lot 20 minutes from his home and taking a bus but that even that lot was often full.
Good luck, Mr. Middlemiss, and may your retirement be productive and full of open parking.
In the meantime, readers who are experts in Canadian defense policy and who are on the job market should direct their CVs to:
Dalhousie University Department of Political Science, 6135 University Ave., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4R2. Applicants must enjoy commuting by bicycle.
So, how’s the parking on your campus? Tell us in the comments or by sending a note to [email]tweed@chronicle.com[/email].
I know parking on some colleges can be a nightmare, but really?
With articles like this I tend to assume that there was a much larger history of disputes and bad feelings. When something like that accumulates the tinniest things might trigger a disproportionate response. I would think that he has been considering retiring from his position for a while now and it was not just a spur-of-the-moment temper tantrum.
Hrm. This is somewhat hard for me to grasp as a non-USAian. How many people go to school/college/university using their car? Because over here, I'd say that perhaps less than a percent uses his/her car. Most get there using the public transport (in Utrecht, there are double-bendy busses going to the university every five minutes, more during rush hours) and bikes.
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Hrm. This is somewhat hard for me to grasp as a non-USAian. How many people go to school/college/university using their car? Because over here, I'd say that perhaps less than a percent uses his/her car. Most get there using the public transport (in Utrecht, there are double-bendy busses going to the university every five minutes, more during rush hours) and bikes.
Depends on the city, places like where I live where it is pretty rural, there is a large amount of people who drive.
I could take the bus but I don't like the idea of having to leave an additional thirty mins in the morning and get home thirty minutes later.
Hrm. This is somewhat hard for me to grasp as a non-USAian. How many people go to school/college/university using their car? Because over here, I'd say that perhaps less than a percent uses his/her car. Most get there using the public transport (in Utrecht, there are double-bendy busses going to the university every five minutes, more during rush hours) and bikes.
1. This happened in Canada, not the U.S.
2. Depends on the location. I would imagine the Netherlands are a lot more urbanized and have a lot more public transport.
Hrm. This is somewhat hard for me to grasp as a non-USAian. How many people go to school/college/university using their car? Because over here, I'd say that perhaps less than a percent uses his/her car. Most get there using the public transport (in Utrecht, there are double-bendy busses going to the university every five minutes, more during rush hours) and bikes.
Depends on where the campus is. If you're not in a large urban area in the US or Canada, there's basically no public transport and a car is necessary to travel anywhere (as things are so spread out). I go to school in a city of around 250,000, and there's just no way I could ever get around anywhere without a car. There are buses, but they don't provide any more service than shuttling students from campus to apartment complexes near campus.
Rural and public transportation are an oxymoron. I've lived in both the city and the suburbs, and it's two very different worlds when it comes to transportation even then.
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Depends on where the campus is. If you're not in a large urban area in the US or Canada, there's basically no public transport and a car is necessary to travel anywhere (as things are so spread out).
Actually, the situation isn't much different even at urban universities. Mass transit is not available in many cities.
For example, at UCLA, the issue of public transport is averted since most undergraduates are expected to live on campus. Parking permits are rationed to graduate and non-traditional students. Roadsides are fully parked to a mile+ radius. The only bright spot in cities is the availability of parking garages so if you're willing to pay $8.00 a day, you could still find a parking spot. Many students and professors resort to taking the bus to and from some far off off-campus parking.
I'd imagine that mass transport may work for a select few urban universities but it doesn't actually work for the bulk of them. Mass transportation is by and large non-existent in the United States.
(There have been more success with medium sized public transit, though. Using UCLA, again, as an example, some universities operate a rather successful network of vanpools. The van routes are rather expansive and reach out 20+ miles away.)
Sounds to me, that if there is enough demand for parking spots and the like, that the university should, I dont know, build some more parking structures to accomodate the demand. A university of that many people and staff with that few parking spots available is just asking for trouble.
I went to school at UF in Gainesville (most bicycle friendly city in the USA.. complete with the highest per capita bike fatality rate ;))
Parking near campus is.. well forget about it. Park and Ride lot for students who even think about commuting is about 2 miles from main campus, so mostly its just storage for cars near dorms (for upperclassmen) and about 1/4 mile down the road for underclassmen. Faculty have thier own parking. I don't know how dense it is, but I've never heard a prof complain about not having a spot.
USF on the other hand (largest college by # of students in florida to my knowledge) is more a commuter school that has a TON of cars. They actually have to bribe students to meet thier quota of first year students on campus housing. They have several parking garrages and I never really had trouble finding parking. Now it wasn't always convienient, but there was parking.
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But yeah, its ridiculous that you can work somewhere and not get parking. It isn't like its NYC.
I've worked in NYC and gotten guaranteed parking, and I was no VIP, mind you. It is pretty much inexcusable to not provide parking for staff. I mean, give me a break.... what a terrible organization.
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http://chronicle.com/blogs/tweed/professor-abandons-his-eternal-search-for-a-parking-space/28959?sid=pm&utm_source=pm&utm_medium=en
I know parking on some colleges can be a nightmare, but really?
With articles like this I tend to assume that there was a much larger history of disputes and bad feelings. When something like that accumulates the tinniest things might trigger a disproportionate response. I would think that he has been considering retiring from his position for a while now and it was not just a spur-of-the-moment temper tantrum.
Same, faculty and staff have separate lots at my university.
Depends on the city, places like where I live where it is pretty rural, there is a large amount of people who drive.
I could take the bus but I don't like the idea of having to leave an additional thirty mins in the morning and get home thirty minutes later.
1. This happened in Canada, not the U.S.
2. Depends on the location. I would imagine the Netherlands are a lot more urbanized and have a lot more public transport.
At the school I go to, faculty and staff get their own parking spaces.
Someone quitting their job over parking that is a new one to me.
But yeah, bicycles FTW!!!
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Depends on where the campus is. If you're not in a large urban area in the US or Canada, there's basically no public transport and a car is necessary to travel anywhere (as things are so spread out). I go to school in a city of around 250,000, and there's just no way I could ever get around anywhere without a car. There are buses, but they don't provide any more service than shuttling students from campus to apartment complexes near campus.
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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
Done and dusted?
It's fricken Canada, ever try using a bike in snow?
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
Snow Bike
But yeah, its ridiculous that you can work somewhere and not get parking. It isn't like its NYC.
For example, at UCLA, the issue of public transport is averted since most undergraduates are expected to live on campus. Parking permits are rationed to graduate and non-traditional students. Roadsides are fully parked to a mile+ radius. The only bright spot in cities is the availability of parking garages so if you're willing to pay $8.00 a day, you could still find a parking spot. Many students and professors resort to taking the bus to and from some far off off-campus parking.
I'd imagine that mass transport may work for a select few urban universities but it doesn't actually work for the bulk of them. Mass transportation is by and large non-existent in the United States.
(There have been more success with medium sized public transit, though. Using UCLA, again, as an example, some universities operate a rather successful network of vanpools. The van routes are rather expansive and reach out 20+ miles away.)
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Dalhousie+University.&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Dalhousie+University.&cid=0,0,8398163671155758083&ei=CLBdTpKWGsrpgQegmczmAQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CAQQ_BI
^Yeah I know google maps URL
But seriously if you try cramming 20,000 people on like 2 blocks that will happen.
Id quit too.
Parking near campus is.. well forget about it. Park and Ride lot for students who even think about commuting is about 2 miles from main campus, so mostly its just storage for cars near dorms (for upperclassmen) and about 1/4 mile down the road for underclassmen. Faculty have thier own parking. I don't know how dense it is, but I've never heard a prof complain about not having a spot.
USF on the other hand (largest college by # of students in florida to my knowledge) is more a commuter school that has a TON of cars. They actually have to bribe students to meet thier quota of first year students on campus housing. They have several parking garrages and I never really had trouble finding parking. Now it wasn't always convienient, but there was parking.
I've worked in NYC and gotten guaranteed parking, and I was no VIP, mind you. It is pretty much inexcusable to not provide parking for staff. I mean, give me a break.... what a terrible organization.