Three blocks to class and already exhausted? If you’re tired of long walks across campus, you’re not alone.
During my first semester at the College of the Desert Indio campus, most parking spots were full at all times. Even when arriving 30 minutes before class, I could never secure a spot in the lot and had to park nearly a mile away near Everbloom Coffee. Many of my classmates shared the same frustration and sometimes arrived late because they could not find parking nearby.
While on campus, I asked students for their thoughts on the parking situation, which proved somewhat tricky. Students running late to class usually did not have time for an interview. Those walking back to their cars after class often had prior commitments, and students who were being picked up did not face the same parking challenges as those who drove themselves.
When asked how the Indio campus could address the parking dilemma, Chloe Gayler, a sophomore at College of the Desert, suggested that students work closely with campus officials to advocate for themselves. Gayler also noted that professors sometimes struggle with parking as well. “Typically professors emphasize that if you know there’s no parking, you should come early, but I have had teachers who are understanding because they also have to deal with this issue,” she said.
On Feb. 19 at 1 p.m., I set up a camera to record the Indio campus parking lot for one hour before my 2 p.m. class. The timelapse offers insight into how early students need to arrive to secure a spot or prepare to park farther away and walk to campus.
By the 15-second mark, around 1:30 p.m., the parking lot is completely full, leaving little room for students who cannot arrive 30 minutes early for class.
College of the Desert’s Indio campus provides accessible parking for people with disabilities and offers reliable transportation and carpooling options for students. However, adding more parking spaces would benefit many who struggle to find open spots before class. The campus could consider opening new lots or partnering with nearby businesses to allow students to park closer to campus.
