For the first time, motorcycle and scooter owners at St. Thomas now have to shell out $75 for campus parking permits after Public Safety noticed an increase in motorcycles and scooters in campus lots.
“It was getting to the point where they were parking everywhere,” Diana Kaardal, Public Safety operations manager said. “We needed to be able to control where and how they were parking.”
The permits are valid for the entire academic year. Senior mo-ped owner Brett Leverson said he was not happy with the decision.
“I was kind of shocked to hear that,” Leverson said. “Some of my reasoning going toward buying my mo-ped was because I knew I was going to get free parking.”
Leverson said he bought a mo-ped this past summer and parked it on campus without needing a permit.
“Those three months were nice without one (permit),” Leverson said.
Motorcycle owner James Winterer, director of media relations for University Relations, said a motorcycle parking permit never used to cost money.
“Like anybody, when I started work here in 1980, you didn’t even need a permit for a car,” Winterer said. “And then you needed a permit, but it didn’t cost anything.”
Motorcycle owner junior Matt Arlien said he doesn’t think the permit cost is warranted because he has not seen an increase in motorcycles.
“With tuition being what it is, I feel like it is an unnecessary charge, especially because there aren’t that many motorcyclists,” Arlien said.
Kaardal said the intention behind the new permit is not to “nickel and dime” students.
“There is a cost, and there is a need,” Kaardal said. “We do want to encourage motorcycles on campus because it reduces traffic, reduces space on our campus and is better for the environment.”
Winterer said he understands Public Safety’s decision.
“Nobody likes paying for a permit, but if you want to have parking, you’ve got to pay for it somehow,” Winterer said.
Kaardal said the money from the new permits will go into the same funds as all other permits.
“In particular, for the motorcycles, it’ll go into maintaining those spaces where we have motorcycles parking,” Kaardal said.
Students can register for a motorcycle or scooter permit through Murphy Online.
Bjorn Saterbak can be contacted at sate3878@stthomas.edu.
I already use my parking permit with multiple vehicles – wouldn’t a scooter be covered under that permit?
nice article Bjorn, im still angry i have fork out $75 to “maintain” what equates to 2 new, inconveniently located motorcycle parking spaces. Plus there not even new spaces, all they did is throw down some yellow striped lines and painted “Motorcycle Parking” on currently existing car parking spaces… i never parked there anyways. If they are going to do this, they might as well start charging us bicycling permits cause i dont know about the about the rest of you who drive mopeds…but that is where i park…right next to the bike rack where i am neither taking up what little on campus parking we have or using up any space that would be used for anything else otherwise. Yes motorcycles are bigger so maybe there is a different argument there, but it just sucks when UST promotes the fact that we are supposed to be a family, a Tommie family, but then turns around and tries to squeeze every last penny out of you. Idk about you guys but when i visit home, my parents don’t make me buy a temporary parking pass to put my moped on the grass next to the driveway so if UST really meant what they promote, they wouldn’t make us either. Oh and if its costing $75 x (the number of mopeds/motorcycles on campus) to maintain a parking space, sign me up i, own both a shovel and a…
paintbrush cause honestly…what more do you need to MAINTAIN A PARKING SPACE????
No/little warning. Cost of living goes up. Impact on the environment gets worse. Students inconvenienced. However the bottom line goes up. Need to pay for those flashy scoreboards.
Incredible first article Bjorn. It was a great read and I can’t wait for the next one.
I emailed and complained as soon as I heard. It is outrageous to charge for something they aren’t even providing. It’s a curb and cement what is there to maintain. Luckily as a commuter its not extra but it does shaft a few of us. Good going UST. Much love but no respect.
If they want to regulate who parks at ust we could just register but to pay a fee it clearly means it’s out for money . leading me to believe that they do not have my best interests at heart and nor do they have Tommie spirit.
Greed machine
I have been using my motorcycle for such a long time and shelling out $75 just to get a permit is way beyond expensive. I don’t think that’s necessary since there are only a few of us who goes to school with a motorcycle. And if that’s the case I’d rather use my car for transportation then.
This is why I will never donate money to UST. They squeeze every single penny they can out of everything.
Motorcycle parking takes up, at most, 5 car parking spaces. These spaces provide for probably 30 people who use gas efficient and space saving vehicles.