Some students tell Humber News that the race for a parking spot at Humber College North campus is overwhelming, with everyone returning for the winter semester.
Sebastian Estrada, final-year Pre-Service Firefighting student, has on campus classes from Monday to Friday and said he struggles to secure a parking spot.
“Around 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. it is difficult to find parking in the front of the campus, it’s busy in the mornings,” Estrada said.
Sebastian Estrada, final-year Pre-service Fire Fighting student, says that daily parking is expensive as he is on-campus five times a week. Photo credit: Khiana Gutierrez
Estrada’s primary transportation to school is his car and he says that expenses add up as he also purchases gasoline and food during the week. In addition, he does not have a parking permit for the semester and he purchases daily parking.
Humber College North Campus has around 3,000 parking spots including the parking garage. Daily parking can range from four dollars to $10, and the amount is calculated by the hours you have been on campus.
“It’s too expensive, $10 a day is way too expensive,” Estrada said.
James Irvine, parking manager for Humber College North campus, told Humber News in an email that all permit holders will be guaranteed a spot.
However, non-pass holders are not guaranteed a daily parking space. If they arrive before 11: 30 a.m. or after 1 p.m. they will certainly be able to find a parking space in the garage.
Irvine also said that parking permits are in high demand since they sell out for both fall and winter semesters and Humber College North campus administers 1,500 student passes and 1,400 staff parking permits.
The parking permits from the college are sold online, for the Winter 2023 semester are sold at $293.25 per four months for Lot one and Lot 13. However, the winter parking permits are sold out for the semester.
While the parking garage is accessible for daily parking holders, some students chose the garage as their last resort for their cars. As the space is narrow and some students speed through the garage.
Angelo Daile, first-year Sports Management student, says that the parking garage is his last resort when it comes to on campus parking. Photo credit: Khiana Gutierrez
Angelo Daile, first-year Sports Management student, said he has on campus classes at 8 a.m. and leaves his house earlier just to secure a spot in the front of the school.
“The first Wednesday of the semester was super busy. I got to school at like 11 a.m. and I had to park at the very top at the parking garage,” Daile said.
He says that it’s “scary” driving up the garage as students are turn wide in a compressed space and others are going down the garage at a fast speed.
Daile also did not purchase a parking permit for the winter semester and he pays for daily parking three times a week.
“I think the time intervals are too short, four dollars for two hours. No one’s here for two hours,” Daile said.
He would like to see more parking zones in front of the campus, rather than having to use the parking garage.
“I think there needs to be like another zone or two, just cause people are complaining that the parking garage being full at the time they come to school,” Daile said.