Woe! Lack of parking at Queen's Uni, Belfast

[lazybloke]

Story here; students whinging there are insufficient car parking spaces near Queens Uni. The complaints include a lot of worry about inconvenience, wasted time, danger, and loss of sleep!
In other words they failed to plan.

My son recently start uni. He tried the rail/bus/driving options for his daily commute BEFORE choosing where to study. Driving would be slow, parking would be prohibitively expensive, so he takes the train. Simple. It's a mile or so walk the other end, so I can see him getting a folding bike at some point, or using the hire bikes, but he's been okay so far. There's a backup option of the bus.

It was the same for me looking for a uni in the 80s. I would zip up to Leeds in my own car, but then leave it in my reserved parking space and not drive iduring the week.

TLDR: If I was studying in Belfast, I'd look for accommodation close to good public transport and cycling routes, or within walking distance.

 

[fossyant]

Most University don't have enough parking for staff, never mind students. We have to apply for parking and you only get one if you have specific care needs or have a caring role etc. I cycle although I am permitted to park due to my spinal issues.

 

[Drago]

He tried the rail/bus/driving options for his daily commute BEFORE choosing where to study.

Steady on. Next thing you know he'll be checking he has somewhere off road to park a car BEFORE buying a house! How quaint!

 

[lazybloke]

Steady on. Next thing you know he'll be checking he has somewhere off road to park a car BEFORE buying a house! How quaint!

It's quaint to think of either of my children EVER leaving home!

Might have to force the issue by downsizing to a small cottage on a remote crag. Maybe a LIGHTHOUSE.

 

[slow horse]

Maybe a LIGHTHOUSE.

Sounds like a good excuse for a ride
https://www.thebeaconbike.co.uk

 

[Andy in Germany]

Story here; students whinging there are insufficient car parking spaces near Queens Uni. The complaints include a lot of worry about inconvenience, wasted time, danger, and loss of sleep!
In other words they failed to plan.

My son recently start uni. He tried the rail/bus/driving options for his daily commute BEFORE choosing where to study. Driving would be slow, parking would be prohibitively expensive, so he takes the train. Simple. It's a mile or so walk the other end, so I can see him getting a folding bike at some point, or using the hire bikes, but he's been okay so far. There's a backup option of the bus.

It was the same for me looking for a uni in the 80s. I would zip up to Leeds in my own car, but then leave it in my reserved parking space and not drive iduring the week.

TLDR: If I was studying in Belfast, I'd look for accommodation close to good public transport and cycling routes, or within walking distance.

It's so easy in a car, so drivers aren't used to planning ahead and then complain when this backfires.

I made trial commute runs last month before my first day at my new place of work, so I knew the route, how long it takes, and what variables could crop up. This is because I'm used to having to work things out myself, because the system isn't set up for people who don't use cars.

This is the cry of people who are used to having the world work their way and don't know how to deal with it.

 

[bikingdad90]

Well for contrast, my car was in the garage getting some work done.

Train station is about a mile from the office, went to get train and it was cancelled so I went to walk to the bus station which is about another half mile away and those were cancelled too.

If I hadn’t of got a lift from a family member it would have taken me nearly 2hrs to travel 10miles home.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Wait, what, students own cars. When did that become a major thing?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

travel 10miles home

Cycle?

 

[Drago]

Well for contrast, my car was in the garage getting some work done.

Train station is about a mile from the office, went to get train and it was cancelled so I went to walk to the bus station which is about another half mile away and those were cancelled too.

If I hadn’t of got a lift from a family member it would have taken me nearly 2hrs to travel 10miles home.

A folding bike in the boot would have seen that cut to 40 minutes.

 

[Rusty Nails]

In Cardiff we are getting students in a flap because the local council is considering a change so that students living instudent-only accommodation cannot get street parking permits. So many of the students have cars and so many of the local streets have been overrun by student accommodation that parking for permanent residents is a big problem.

Not an issue when I lived in that area as a student......but that was a loooooooooong time ago.

 

[lazybloke]

Wait, what, students own cars. When did that become a major thing?

It's not a major thing, but if students don't spend money on cars they seem to be fairly frivolous with premium phones/tablets, computers, city breaks, holidays to (eg) Ibiza, a fortune on alcohol, clubbing, dining out, concerts, activities, ready meals, coffee, cinema, subscription music/TV services, and other entertainment; plus more on nails, clothing, hair, tanning, tattoos, piercings, etc. Don't get me started on shoes!

And they claim to be broke!

I didnt mention accommodation and tuition fees, as they are covered by student loans rather than being upfront costs.

 

[Drago]

Cycle?

This thread really is throwing up some quaint ideas!

Cycling might require effort, which will traumatise them.

 

[bikingdad90]

Cycle?

A folding bike in the boot would have seen that cut to 40 minutes.

Normally I would but I was expecting the car in and out within the day and not take 2 days. It needed major service and 4 sets of pads and discs and the mechanic didn’t get it done in a day.

 

[Andy in Germany]

A folding bike in the boot would have seen that cut to 40 minutes.

I tend to take my Brommie on the train these days as a plan 'B'; at least I can get to the next station/tram line, and I time my journey to work so that I won't be too late even if one train is cancelled.