Reactions mixed over new parking on campus

By Austin Schmitt

Adding parking spaces and a bike lane on University Drive have caused both problems and perks, students say.

A change on University Drive removing one lane of traffic and adding bike lanes and parking spaces was implemented two weeks ago. The change added 122 parking spaces, and four metered spaces are in the process of being added on Huguelet Drive.

The parking spaces are employee spots Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. After that time frame, anyone with a C, R, K or evening permit can park there.

So far, the response has been mostly positive and people seem to appreciate having extra spaces and bike lanes, said Don Thornton, director of UK Parking and Transportation Services.

“As far as complaints go, it has been very positive,” Thornton said. “Zero complaints.”
Christian Smith, a psychology freshman who lives in Donovan Hall and parks in K Lot at Commonwealth Stadium, said the bikers still don’t use the lanes provided.

“Every time I walk from K Lot to my dorm on University (Drive), I almost get hit by a bike rider on the sidewalk,” Smith said.

Thornton stressed the need for the bikers to use the newly constructed bike lanes.

“Cyclists need to get off sidewalks and go to the bike lanes,” Thornton said. “They shouldn’t be there. They are very wide bike lanes. Get off the sidewalks and make it safer for pedestrians.”

The bike paths along University Drive may help the bike riders as they ride to places along South Campus, but safer bike paths are needed throughout campus, said mechanical engineering freshman Charlie Lovan.

“I used the bike paths to go to the Seaton Center,” Lovan said. “Most of the time, I’m riding around campus and there aren’t any bike paths so I ride on the sidewalk.”

At the recommendation of an outside transportation firm, University Drive was changed to accommodate on-campus bike riders and encourage pedestrian safety, Thornton said.

“Several outside agencies were brought in by the university to deal with bicycle access,” Thornton said. “We also had received several complaints from pedestrians about unsafe speeds of cars on University Drive.”

Complaints from pedestrians about crossing University Drive at Complex Drive and inaccessibility for bike riders prompted the university to bring in the agencies. UK decided upon Toole Design Group in 2005 to engineer the changes. The next year, the Kentucky Transportation Department validated Toole’s recommendations, Thornton said.

“The reason for the Kentucky Transportation Department’s involvement had to do with pedestrian safety,” Thornton said.

The total cost of the project, including studies and signage, was about $5,000, Thornton said.

The metered spaces are to assist students with loading and unloading, Thornton said.

“They will benefit everybody,” Thornton said. “Sometimes students in that area have an issue with loading and unloading after they have been home on the weekends.”