<p>Son is reapplying as a transfer- was accepted LY as a freshman, chose to go somewhere else, now wants to transfer in. If he gets in, he would be a Sophomore, and can have a car [correct?] How hard is it [really] to get a parking permit for one of the garages? Does it take years to get off the parking waitlist? And are there many problems with auto break ins/ vandalism ?</p>
<p>Parking places, even when you have a permit, are hard to find.</p>
<p>So do most UG's not have a car?</p>
<p>I don't live there, but in the several times that I've visited, I've found it extremely easy to navigate most of Chicago on public transportation alone, supplemented by the occasional cab. Thoughts from residents would be appreciated, but in my limited experience a car does not seem necessary.</p>
<p>About 20 years ago my uncle's car was stolen when he was at the University of Chicago.</p>
<p>Very few undergrads have cars, and having one is rarely all that helpful. Public transportation is pretty easy and covers most areas you'd be going. There aren't many places to park, though there are spaces in front of the Shoreland for kids who live there. After driving to main campus, though, you're still stuck looking for a space. Except in a few circumstances, having a car is more work than not.</p>
<p>S is a second year and has a car, He has found it quite useful. He parks at the garage across from Ratner. I think it costs about $80/month.</p>
<p>Idad-Is he guaranteed a spot in that garage? In looking at parking info on the website it seems many [most?] of the monthly permit lots are also hourly lots. So does that make it harder to find a spot even if you have paid for one?</p>
<p>Honestly, having a car in Hyde Park is simply not worth the hassle. Especially for undergrads who may want to venture off campus only infrequently and in order to go places like downtown or Lincoln Park where finding parking at your destination is expensive, the CTA is generally a better option. I'm a grad student, and didn't buy one until the 5th year of my PhD when I moved to the north side. Even then it was only because I'm an athlete and go on road trips most weekends for events. Now that I do have one, I'm typically on campus by 6:00 am to try to find a spot that is within a half mile of main campus. Street closures are freqent and very common, as is street cleaning, and in the winter snow clearing.</p>
<p>A much better option is services like I-Go - it's a non-profit car sharing service. You pay a nominal fee to be a member, and then small usage charges. They have cars parked all over the neighborhood that you can sign out if you want to go shopping, on a day trip, etc. (<a href="http://www.igocars.org/)%5B/url%5D">http://www.igocars.org/)</a>. In many cases, it ends up being quite a bit cheapter than owning/maintaining/parking a car on campus. At least in my department, everybody is doing this now.</p>
<p>I don't know the parking lot specifics, but will be speaking to him soon. I will ask. He likes the grocery shopping, dry ice gathering, later night traveling convenience of the car. He does not use continuously use it; he still uses the campus buses etc.</p>
<p>thanks, that is what my son would be using his car for there. he currently has use of it at the U he is at [as a freshman] , and would like to be able to bring it to Chicago, if he is accepted.</p>
<p>My D is a second year student at Chicago. No car. gets around very well on the CTA. Goes downtown all the time. Takes the bus to Target, groceries etc. Car insurance in the BIG CITY can be quite expensive. I got quoted $1200 a year from my insurance Co.</p>
<p>Talked to S, no problem with a spot in the garage as long as one pays by the quarter. The visitor spots do fill up. He says he has had good luck with street parking as well. Very happy he has his car.</p>
<p>thanks! forgot to ask earlier- what garage does he use?</p>
<p>55th & Ellis, near the Ratner athletic center.</p>
<p>If you live in Max or Pierce, the parking deck is convenient; otherwise, it can be sort of a hike to walk from your car back to the dorm - a problem if you're using it for carrying stuff.</p>
<p>I don't see why you need a car for shopping. Only a small fraction of students have cars, but almost all of them shop every once in a while. If you live in Shoreland, Broadview, Stony Island or Mac, you're very close to shopping in Hyde Park (as well as the Metra and CTA buses if you need something more special).</p>
<p>My overnight host told me that he knows one guy who works at a store downtown and therefore has a car. In a situation like this, it can be helpful, but the number of UG's that have jobs downtown is tiny.</p>