As California State University, Bakersfield students and staff return to campus for the start of the fall semester, many are encountering parking issues, ranging from cost to simply finding an available space. 

” If they are at least going to put up more [spaces] then I can understand the price,” stated CSUB student Aleck Barr, “But if they aren’t going to expand, add more solar panels, or pave more of the parking lot I don’t see why we are charged so much money. Paying $93 a semester plus an extra $22 for a motorcycle is outrageous.” 

Some students are also stating that just finding parking spots is a struggle, with 1 p.m. being a packed timeframe, students are resorting to parking halfway across campus. 

Walter Evans, a psychology student at CSUB, said that “for 90-something dollars, I don’t believe parking passes are worth it. you have to gamble with the fact that sometimes you won’t even get a parking spot. You’re better off just taking the chance to park [on campus] without it, if it were something like 50 bucks I can understand, but what are we paying for?”  

However, parking isn’t just an issue that students are facing—with some staff members spiking a conversation about staff-only parking. Some staff allegedly claimed that it’s unfair to park alongside students and that CSUB should take better care of its staff by allowing them to park closer to their classrooms. 

“I believe that my opinion is mixed, yet I sway more towards staff and faculty parking. I believe it would help professors and staff that may have to lug more supplies to and from their classrooms,” said Professor Jacquelyn Kegley, a philosophy professor at CSUB whose class takes place next to parking lot A. 

As the semester continues, students are encouraged to stay informed about campus parking regulations and safety. For more parking information or to purchase parking passes, visit the CSUB Parking website or call 1-800-700-4417.