As FHS students continue through the school year, the problem of the students’ parking lot remains prominent. Many students drive to school, and whether they park in the student parking lot or in the residential streets near the school, they face recurring issues.
The dilemma is obvious: there are just not enough parking spots for everyone. The school has been using the same system for years and frankly, it is time for a new one. Every year, students request a parking spot based on their home address and grade level; this criteria often determines whether they get it or not. The system is supposed to prioritize certain students, such as those with zip codes 94085, 94086 and 94089, that have to travel further distances, and seniors, but in reality, it is only solving problems for some individuals, and there are still many students left with no parking spots who live far away. Many students who do not live within a short walking distance but share the same zip code as the school simply do not get the priority. This raises the question of whether this system is truly effective. This situation creates unnecessary frustration for students who are left without a parking spot, making them search for limited alternative parking options.
“I think they should have parking spots for every student, or every senior, at least,” FHS senior Naysa Pandey, who recently dealt with flat tires after parking on the streets near campus, said.
Due to the limited number of parking spots, many students have no choice but to park on the streets near the campus. While this seems like a decent alternative, it comes with its own set of problems. First, students who park off-campus have to wake up earlier and arrive at school early in order to find a parking spot. This often means less sleep, which can negatively impact academic performance and overall focus during the school day.
“It’s very hard to get parking spots because it gets filled up really quickly,” Pandey said. “And I’ve had flat tires, and a lot of people have gotten rear-ended.”
Due to the rise of this concerning problem, some students end up avoiding parking in certain areas such as Sydney Drive and Selo Drive, within the nearby neighborhood in fear of these risks. This affects many students and adds to the stress already put upon them from academic and social factors.
Even those that get lucky and get a student parking permit experience problems. The student parking lot itself is chaotic, with students not following traffic laws, especially when leaving at the end of the school day. The student parking issue would not be as bad as it is now if students drove more cautiously in the parking lot and around campus, obeyed traffic laws like speeding and right of way, and were more considerate of other people.
While the number of parking spots will continue to be limited, changes from the school administration could make the situation more manageable. At the very least, students can do their part to make parking at FHS more pleasant.
