<p>I realize that most of you will laugh at this question, but my decision whether to live on- or off-campus rests on this: is it possible for a first-year student to obtain some type of parking permit for one of the lots within the southern portion of the campus (or any other lots, for that matter), or are those simply restricted to faculty members and such?...or are would we be forced to hunt for those hopeless spaces along the streets everyday?</p>
<p>First years aren't allowed to have cars. Sorry - I assumed by that restriction, that they won't allow you to park in their lots...</p>
<p>I think that that rule applies to those living on-campus. Would commuters be allowed to obtain parking permits?</p>
<p>I think you'd better e-mail someone at the school. I have no idea...</p>
<p>haha. I had no idea that parking facilities even existed on campus, other than the ones for the hospitals. It would have been nice if I found this out BEFORE I sent in the deposit for housing, though.</p>
<p>i really do hope that any sort of parking is available, cuz i would definitely be a commuter then...</p>
<p>There are no parking permits. All parking on uChicago's campus is free on streets, with the exception of a stretch of Ellis between 59th and 57th that is metered and some parking lots that are mainly for falculty, but you can purchase a permit for (about $600 a year) certain ones. It is suggested that first years don't bring cars, but first-years living on campus ARE allowed to bring cars. A handful do. While parking is free on most of campus, that also means it is hard to find on school days. I've had a few times where a teacher is as much as 30 minutes late because they couldn't find parking. Being a commuter student is just a dumb idea, assuming you can afford the housing. You will isolate yourself from the community greatly. I know one commuter student who is graduating this year, and the one she regrets is never living on campus.</p>
<p>As an undergraduate, I was a commuter student - although not to Chicago. As kelee2 mentions, you lose out on a great deal of campus life. If there is <em>any</em> way to swing the money to live on campus, try to do so. Having your own car (and your own bathroom, lol) just does not make up for what is missed.</p>
<p>According to a page on the Univ's website:</p>
<p>"1st year undergraduate students may only be issued permits in the Ellis garage structure"
From: <a href="http://facilities.uchicago.edu/parking/ParkingPolicy.html%5B/url%5D">http://facilities.uchicago.edu/parking/ParkingPolicy.html</a></p>
<p>Apparently, those parking permits are very expensive. It makes you wonder why UofC has not invested in any parking facilities for its students, considering the situation with parking within the campus. I guess that this is to encourage students to live within the housing system as opposed to commuting from home.</p>
<p>As a Hyde Park resident, I can tell you that U of C has no real parking problem, unless you think parking must be less than 5 minutes walk from your destination.</p>
<p>Of all the issues I've seen discussed here, this one is the most rediculous:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>The campus is small, so it does not take long to walk anywhere.</p></li>
<li><p>Public transit (which is good) is arguably as useful for going downtown and north side as a car, given the cost and difficulty of finding parking downtown and northside.</p></li>
<li><p>north of 55th street there is lots of streetside parking. Yea, that means (horrors) walking 3 or 4 blocks to campus...</p></li>
</ul>
<p>The BIGGEST problem with street parking is that you can't just park and forget, at least not between April and November. Periodically, the city posts no parking for street cleaning, and only a day or two in advance. Forget to move and you'll get, minimum, a $50 ticket, and could get towed.</p>
<p>So chill out. </p>
<p>PARKING IS A NONISSUE AT U OF C.</p>
<p>Can upperclassmen get parking permits?</p>
<p>Neverborn,</p>
<p>Why would you want a parking permit. THE STREETS OF THE U ARE PUBLIC STREETS. ANYONE CAN PARK. For Free.</p>
<p>There are two parking structures on the campus. They are for faculty and staff who commute. </p>
<p>So Neverborn, what don't you understand? You STILL want a permit? For what?</p>
<p>I generally like assured parking and don't know how to parallel park :P</p>
<p>
[quote]
I generally like assured parking and don't know how to parallel park
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Time to look at a rural university, then. I hear U. North Dakota guarantees parking, including a plug for your block heater, for anyone who can stand the weather there. No || parking, either.</p>
<p>I DO hope you're not serious about parking concerns for college, LOL. There are so many more important things to consider. </p>
<p>BTW, the cost to avoid || parking in chicago will run you upwards of $20/shot when you leave campus. Time to learn a new skill?</p>
<p>These may help:
<a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/parallel-parking%5B/url%5D">http://www.answers.com/topic/parallel-parking</a>
<a href="http://www.2pass.co.uk/parallel.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.2pass.co.uk/parallel.htm</a></p>
<p>If all else fails, this method looks good:
<a href="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/ppark.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ebaumsworld.com/ppark.html</a></p>
<p>Ultimately, there is this:
<a href="http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,60154,00.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,60154,00.html</a>
<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/03/earlyshow/main1463635.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/03/earlyshow/main1463635.shtml</a></p>
<p>newmassdad: Do you honestly think city universities have no assigned parking? My univ. in Chicago does, and I know of a couple more that do.</p>
<p>
[quote]
According to a page on the Univ's website:</p>
<p>"1st year undergraduate students may only be issued permits in the Ellis garage structure"
From: <a href="http://facilities.uchicago.edu/park...kingPolicy.html%5B/url%5D">http://facilities.uchicago.edu/park...kingPolicy.html</a></p>
<p>Apparently, those parking permits are very expensive. It makes you wonder why UofC has not invested in any parking facilities for its students, considering the situation with parking within the campus. I guess that this is to encourage students to live within the housing system as opposed to commuting from home.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just to clarify, that says that among permit-parking garages, only one them allows first-years. Again, anybody can park for free on the streets. The university does not own the streets and cannot and does not restrict who parks there.</p>
<p>Is parking really all that important for a student in Chicago. With that much public transit runnning through campus all over the region, it seems like there is no good reason to own a car as a student.</p>
<p>kodama: I enjoy not carrying groceries back on the train/bus as well as going to the suburbs to visit friends... not to mention road trips and drives home.</p>
<p>neverborn,</p>
<p>I don't know about parking at other "city universities" nor do I care. I DO know the situation at Chicago, as do others, and we have all said it should not be a concern. Why you still want to argue the point I cannot understand. </p>
<p>Just to be clear: Any student who wants to bring a car can do so. Many do. Those students will need to park on the street, which is not difficult for those willing to walk a few blocks.</p>
<p>For students living on or near the campus (which is most) parking in a permitted facility, lot or structure, is not necessary and not allowed, other than metered spots, where anyone can park.</p>
<p>Is this clear enough?</p>