As a proud student of Kennesaw State University I will have to say that there is one thing that is causing me anxiety about this upcoming semester. That thing is parking. That’s right, you read it properly, I am so not looking forward to parking. If you are a fellow student at KSU then you know exactly what I mean when I say that, but let me paint a picture for those of you who don’t. Parking on campus is a nightmare. Period. There are more students than there are spots, and the first week of classes ensures long lines, and full decks. As an upcoming junior at the university, I know a thing or two about what to do, and what not to do when it comes to parking at Kennesaw State.
1. Don’t leave campus during rush hour.
Traffic is always terrible around campus, but from 5-7 it is a particular shade of awful. I takes an average of 40 minutes to get out of the deck and on Chastain road between these hours. This will take you five minutes any other time of the day, so if possible avoid leaving campus then at all costs. There are plenty of good ways to keep busy in the time; the gym is a good option, do homework in the Library, or eat all you can in the commons. Trust me when I say the time you spend in traffic could be better spent elsewhere
2. Utilize B.O.B
No BOB isn’t a person, it’s a bus system. There are several off campus options that are not only cheaper, but will guarantee you find a parking spot. There is an app you can download called TransLoc Rider that will show you exactly where the bus is, what route it’s taking, and how long it will take for it to reach you.
3. If you are smart, don’t park in Central.
Sure Central is the biggest deck on campus, but that’s exactly what’s wrong with it. Because it is the biggest parking deck on campus students always assume that they will be able to find a spot. I can tell you from the awful stories I have heard that that is no necessarily the case. Because it is the largest of the 3 available parking decks it is the one that they push students to sign up for during orientation. With a growing number of first year students coming in each year, the deck just hasn’t been able to handle the number of people wanting to use.
4. Give yourself extra time to find parking during the first week.
The first week of classes is always the most hectic. Every single person that attends will be there at exactly the same time as you. This makes finding a spot to park that much more difficult. Expect to be stuck in ridiculous lines, it took me an hour one time to get in and up the deck to find a spot one time.
Whether you are a first year or fourth, parking at Kennesaw State is sure to grind your gears for the first week of classes. However awful the parking situation might be, nothing will change the fact that Kennesaw State University is a great place to get a degree. Like anything good thing it has its ups and its downs, but overall this in one place worth the horrendous parking we will all soon be dealing with. Good luck to everyone this year in the parking deck, and it the class room!
