Editorial Board

Issue: Citing safety concerns stemming from congested side-street parking combined with two-way traffic, the Brookings City Council’s Ad Hoc Parking Committee is considering several solutions, some more troublesome than the issue.

Parking problems are not just an issue for SDSU; the Brookings City Council believes parking on city streets, especially those near campus, presents a safety issue.

We at The Collegian, along with many students, have experienced the tight squeezes that occur when meeting oncoming traffic with rows of parked cars on either side of the street. They are definitely an inconvenience, especially when combined with pedestrians and snow; however, we have to ask ourselves if the matter warrants regulations, some of which would be far greater inconveniences than the original “issue.”

One idea suggested at a council meeting was requiring passes to park along the street. This is something we cannot support. Passes may deter some, but there could very easily be a large amount of people willing to pay money for the right to park on the street. This does not solve the congestion issue; it only allows people to pay and have the option of contributing to this so-called safety problem.

Furthermore, a pass system leads to other issues. Are residents to have passes if there do not have room for cars in their driveway? What about guests or visitors during holidays? To us, it seems a pass system is an extremely flawed idea.

Another idea presented was changing some roads to one-way streets, allowing for parking on either side without the nuisance of oncoming traffic. This change could lead to more safety incidents, as it takes time for people adjust to sudden changes.

One idea that we could support, if absolutely necessary, is parking on only one side of the street. For us, this solution addresses the real concern while being the least intrusive.

Stance: Safety may be an issue, but such drastic measures are completely unnecessary. Committee members should consider very seriously whether change is truly needed, and then, if deemed so, choose the least intrusive measures that solve the true concerns of public safety.