By Mike Saito
To be honest, I was flabbergasted by BYU's free parking policy. The worst part is the fact that BYU has students who ride the bus make up the lost parking permit income. This policy has serious flaws and will not help reduce traffic congestion, pollution and neighborhood parking problems.
Flaw one is a historical fact. Free parking never reduces congestion; it simply encourages people to drive more.
Flaw two is a serious one. The scheme to make up the lost parking permit income by UTA-pass sales means that the bus users, who contribute to the reduction of traffic congestion, air pollution and parking lot maintenance costs, are charged for their good work. Those who create congestion, pollute and damage the pavement are let go of their responsibility without any user fee. This means those who buy bus passes are taxed twice: they pay for the bus pass and at the same time they pay for the maintenance of parking lots.
Flaw three is ultimate nonsense. Parking office manger Greg Barber says students already have enough financial worries. Has he ever thought that those who purchase bus passes have enough financial worries? The free parking policy systematically discriminates against those who use the bus and contribute to the improvement of the community and environment. It is a shame that BYU created a policy that promotes social inequality.
Flaw four is a lack of understanding the parking problem here. The real problem is not the parking fee. It is the location of student parking lots. It is the geography of BYU campus. Practically all lecture halls are located at the south end of the campus, while large student parking lots are located at the north. The BYU administration thinks a 15-minute walk is easy. Well that logic hasn?t made sense to students for many years. Such a statement shouldn?t be made by the people who park at premium locations without even paying a dime.
There is a better solution that directly targets the campus geography-related parking problems, promotes social equality and teaches the basic economic principle of user costs to students. Charge a transportation systems fee to all ? students, faculty and staff. Yes, faculty and staff should also pay because they too contribute to traffic congestion and air pollution. Besides, they are already enjoying parking at premium locations. Once the fee is paid, give them a ?free? parking and ?free? bus pass; let them have alternatives. This way, both students who drive and students who ride the bus pay for their user costs. No one gets a free meal. Use the pooled fund to provide shuttle service between the student parking lots and the lecture hall area of campus, either by BYU owned vehicles or by negotiating with UTA.
I give a grade of F to those who came up with this flawed free parking policy. As an alumnus of BYU, I cannot remain silent about this nonsense. If BYU gives free parking to those who drive to school, it should give free bus passes to students who don?t. Refund $60 to all students who purchased bus passes!
Mike Saito is a professor of transportation engineering in the Civil Engineering Department at BYU.