As McMaster's student population continues to grow, limited parking infrastructure creates mounting challenges for both commuter and resident students

By: Ardena Bašić, Opinion Contributor

McMaster University's parking situation has reached a critical point, with demand for parking spaces significantly exceeding the available supply. This shortage affects not just commuter students, but also off-campus residents who keep their vehicles on university grounds, creating a complex challenge that requires immediate attention. 

The current parking system at McMaster is characterized by waitlists for parking permits, forcing students to seek alternatives that often compromise their time, safety or finances. For example, many students park on side roads, local businesses or other areas where parking can be under strict time limits, unsafe and potentially more costly than campus options.

While the university has implemented a tiered pricing system offering various rates for different time periods, the impact of these measures appears minimal in addressing the core issue of capacity. 

One of the most significant challenges is the limited availability of parking spaces near core campus areas. In a recent study of students in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, 41 per cent of students reported that long commutes discouraged them from coming to campus more often, with parking challenges being a significant factor in this decision. 

41 per cent of students reported that long commutes discouraged them from coming to campus more often, with parking challenges being a significant factor in this decision. 

The financial burden of parking adds another layer of complexity to the issue. Current parking fees represent a substantial expense for students already managing tuition, textbooks and other educational costs. While the university's tiered pricing system again attempts to distribute demand across different time slots, the number of students able to take advantage of reduced pricing after 4:00 p.m. is likely minimal due to rigid class schedules. 

The parking challenge extends beyond just commuter students. Many students living off-campus in nearby neighbourhoods rely on their vehicles for work commitments, grocery shopping or family obligations. These students often need long-term parking solutions that the current infrastructure struggles to provide. 

Looking ahead, several potential solutions could help address these challenges. While constructing new parking facilities would be the most straightforward solution, space constraints and environmental considerations make this option complicated.

Alternative approaches might include implementing smart parking systems to optimize space utilization, developing partnerships with nearby private parking facilities, expanding shuttle services from remote parking locations, creating designated carpool parking areas with incentivized rates and introducing flexible permit options that align with hybrid learning schedules.

However, immediate actions are also necessary. McMaster should conduct comprehensive surveys to understand parking usage patterns and student needs. This data could inform more effective short-term solutions while longer-term infrastructure plans are developed. 

The university should also consider how parking policies intersect with its sustainability goals. While addressing parking needs is crucial, solutions should align with environmental responsibilities and encourage alternative transportation methods where feasible. 

McMaster's parking challenges represent a significant infrastructure issue that affects the daily lives of numerous students. As the university continues to grow, finding innovative solutions to address parking capacity while balancing accessibility, affordability and sustainability will be crucial for maintaining its reputation as a student-centered institution. 

Last Friday I failed my Level Two Road Test.

I’ve told only a handful of people about my failure, though now of course I’m telling the Silhouette’s entire readership.

My friends and family have told me it isn’t a big deal. Most people fail the final road test the first time, and Hamilton is apparently notorious for failing potential drivers the first time. I should try Burlington instead; apparently they have a better reputation.

People tell me that it just wasn’t my time to be fully licensed, there was some other divine reason as to why I was meant to fail my test the first time. I wasn’t ready, I just needed a few more months practice.

But I was ready. Or at least I felt ready.

I drove regularly, around the city and on the highway and took a practice test with my instructor during reading week. He told me to review the three-point-turn and I was good to go.
Apparently not though, because when I took my test after waiting half an hour for my invigilator, I lasted five minutes on the road before she instructed me to turn back into the driving test centre.
I parked crookedly in the parking lot, panicked and aware of my failure.

“Just let me straighten out the car,” I told her ready to put the car in reverse.

“Just park the car.” She then instructed me on where I could rebook my test, left my car, and walked back into the building.

I knew what I did wrong: I treated a four-way intersection as a four-way stop by mistake, slowed down, and then took off someone’s right of way. I would have liked to hear her tell me my mistake, or at least ask me if I knew what I did wrong and tell me how to fix it for next time. I was being cautious because I know most drivers forget about the special little blinker that notifies other drivers you will be turning. I was cautious because it was my final test and I thought being cautious was better than rushing into something and risking an accident.

But that didn’t stop my invigilator from marking off that I completed a dangerous action, and had inadequate skills to complete the test.

Test Terminated, my test document read.

I made a mistake. A stupid stupid mistake fueled on a half hour’s worth of anxiety and my own self-doubt.

I cried, of course I cried. I ran back to the building of the driving test centre and told my parents I had failed. They soothed me and comforted me, but it didn’t stop me from feeling like a failure.

I’m a bit of a perfectionist in that way I guess. I had passed my previous two tests on the first try after much hard work and assumed that by working even harder for this test I would also pass on the first try. When I work hard for something I expect success and I’m only beginning to learn that even when you try your hardest you don’t always succeed. That stuff is only good in fairy-tales.

My dad told me that it’s the tragedies and disappointments in life that we learn most from and which shape us, not the good and blessed moments. And in that I believe him because even though I feel like a failure I know that I will get back in the car and drive again, I will take the test again, and I this time I will pass.

Until then, I’ll just have to get used to the fact that everyone fails, even when you try your hardest failure is sometimes inevitable.

Vanaja Sivakumar 

SHEC

I know what you must be thinking: another article about the dangers of impaired driving, the same old stats that we have been hearing since high school. Well, the media, alongside groups such as MADD, has done a good job keeping our society constantly aware of the ultimate repercussions of driving under the influence.

So, this article will not be about alcohol or drugs but about the distractions you do not really think about, the ones that have crept into your everyday lives. Though they may seem harmless at first, they can cause just as much damage as drugs and alcohol when used in combination with driving and in some cases, even more so.

BBMing, IMing and Texting are getting more popular and have become a part of our everyday lives. Though many adults have become accustomed to the occasional text, our generation has been the most affected to a point that one could call it, dare I say, an epidemic. Many people would say this habit is relatively harmless in that it actually promotes networking for job searching and other benefits.

Until recently, however, very few have recognized the dangers of these habits while driving. A new survey conducted by Stats Canada said that 8/10 Canadian drivers were distracted behind the wheel. Unfortunately, most of these drivers were between the ages of 18-30, a large portion of our university’s age group, and cell phones are to blame.

“We think we’re invincible,” says fourth-year Life Science student Fariha Husain. “We all know that being distracted while we drive is a bad idea yet the common mentality is ‘I’m a good driver, it’s not going to happen to me. I mean I look up after every word I text, that is ridiculous!”

The list unfortunately does not end at cellphones for culprits that cause distracted driving.  Elaborate car accessories, such as GPS systems and iPod docks, which are supposed to make driving easier, have escalated the problem. Part of the issue for GPS devices is that drivers rely on them too heavily and follow its directions blindly, even in some cases, right into oncoming traffic. Finding the right song to match your mood while driving has regrettably become more important than keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

A study conducted at Drexel University in the Department of Computer Science in Philadelphia received results that showed that selecting media on an iPod had a significant effect on driver performance as measured by lateral deviation from lane centre (translation: not being able to drive straight). Similar results were also seen with cell phone use and driving.

Now onto a happier note: the general populace are slowly becoming aware of these issues and fortunately, are reacting and doing things about it. Laws not only in Canada but all over the world are being passed prohibiting the use of cell phones or other electrical device use while driving and hefty fines are being placed on the delusional people that still do.

The law is not the only venue being used for change - celebrities such as Oprah are getting in on the “No Phone Zone” in cars, and they are proving to be quite effective.

The most interesting solution that has been used to solve this rising problem is exercising technology to combat technology. Applications in the car and cell phones are becoming available to prevent the use of electronics while driving.

For an example, Textecution is an Android application aimed to restrict the user from sending text messages while driving. It costs roughly $10/month and works by tapping into the phone’s GPS system. If Textecution determines that the vehicle is moving over 10 km/h, it disables the phone’s texting capabilities. Similar features have been installed in GPS systems, where it detects how fast a vehicle is moving and disables the user from using the device until the vehicle has come to a full stop.

Being aware of the problem is the first step. To gain further insight on this issue and witness the consequences of impaired driving, McMaster’s Student Health Education Centre (SHEC) and the Emergency First Response Team (EFRT) will be hosting an Impaired Driving Event on March 26 in front of University Hall every hour starting at 10:20 a.m. This is an event that everyone should see so that no one has to experience it.