With UCD reducing the number of car parking spaces available on-campus, what will this mean for commuting students?
On 6 October, UCD closed their car park between the UCD Village and Ashfield Student Residences.
The closure, affecting over 200 parking spaces, is due to “ongoing capital projects” according to an email sent to students from UCD Estate Services on 5 September. It is unclear which capital projects the email makes reference to as no further information is disclosed. Neither Estate Service’s website or social media accounts mention the closure, but a sign at the car park shows the proposed student accommodation which was recently allocated funds by the Department of Further and Higher Education.
In their email, Estate Services recommend that students “explore the alternative transport options,” placing an emphasis on sustainable transport substitutes. Evan, a third year student and commuter from Wexford, drives for over an hour each morning to get to class. He cannot take a bus as the journey costs more than petrol and does not guarantee a seat, nor can he take a train as the journey is “deeply impractical”.
Evan says the closure might lead him to leaving his house 45 minutes earlier each morning. This will affect either his participation in on-campus activities (Evan is on the committee of two societies), and/or his sleep schedule. The Road Safety Authority reports that lack of sleep is a contributor to fatigue which is a “major factor in a large proportion of road traffic collisions”.
The closure places greater demand on commuters who are already dealing with insufficient spaces. At the time of writing, UCD has issued 6521 car parking permits for 2512 car parking spaces - and this figure is now reduced to 2306 car parking spaces. Permits cost €50 per semester, and discounts are not offered for students purchasing for the full academic year.
Evan says it is 'ridiculous' that more than 2.8 permits for each parking space are sold. He accepts that it makes sense for UCD to sell some more permits than they have spaces but finds the current level “greedy” as many “will never be able to find parking on campus”.
While UCD’s travel plan ‘Getting There the Sustainable Way’ has committed to decreasing car commutes by 7% between 2016 and 2026, closing car parks may not be the best way to achieve that.
UCD Estate Services have been contacted for comment.