Free Parking for Low-Income Students
Free Parking for Low-Income Students
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What If the Parking Was Cheaper for Low-Income Students at UCI?
What If the Parking Was Cheaper for Low-Income Students at UCI?
Every morning, a student wakes up, gets ready for class, maybe grabs breakfast, and drives to UC Irvine. Before even arriving, they check the parking website and see the number: $81 every month. For some, this is just another expense added to tuition, books, and rent. But for many low-income students, it’s a heavy burden—one more barrier to being fully present in their education. Unlike tuition, which can be offset by financial aid, parking is a flat fee, the same for everyone, no matter their income. That makes it a hidden tax that falls hardest on those with the least.
Why does parking cost so much? UCI’s Transportation & Distribution Services (TDS) is an auxiliary unit, which means it must fully pay for itself. It doesn’t receive tuition dollars or state funds. The fees students pay cover everything: paying off the debt from building parking structures (which cost tens of millions of dollars, with each single space running up to $50,000), ongoing maintenance, staff salaries, technology systems, enforcement, and even sustainability programs like shuttles, carpools, and EV chargers. In other words, the high price of parking is a direct result of the department’s self-sustaining business model.
But here’s the problem: a model designed around financial self-sufficiency doesn’t take student equity into account. A flat $81 monthly charge impacts students very differently depending on their background. For higher-income students, it’s manageable. For low-income students, it’s an added stress that competes with rent, groceries, and textbooks. In a university that talks about access and inclusion, this gap matters.
The good news is that there are ways forward. Other institutions have begun experimenting with equity-based models, and UCI could too. Some solutions include:
A sliding-scale permit system, where students with financial need qualify for reduced rates.
A subsidy fund, supported by small student fees, donations, or grants, to lower costs for those who need it most.
A shared-pass system, allowing multiple students who don’t drive every day to split the cost of a permit.
A work-exchange program, where students volunteer for campus events or sustainability projects in return for discounted parking.
None of these ideas require TDS to “lose money.” They could be supported by cross-subsidies (slightly higher rates for premium permits), by university funds dedicated to equity, or even by outside grants tied to sustainability and transportation access. What they require is a shift in mindset: seeing parking not just as a business transaction, but as part of what it means to make UCI accessible to all students.
For many of us, $81 a month is not just a number — it’s the difference between security and stress, between focusing on class and worrying about bills. If UCI is serious about equity, it’s time to build a system that recognizes that reality.
Testimonies
Testimonies
Some testimonies that were left on our Change.org petition.
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
Q1: If low-income students get free or reduced parking, won’t the rest of us have to pay more?
No—the goal of this initiative is not to raise fees for other students. Instead, funding can come from alternative sources such as state grants for sustainable transportation, corporate sponsorships, alumni donations, or creative campus fundraisers (like a “Park & Run 5K” or “Drive-in Movie Night for a Cause”). By diversifying funding, we protect all students while making sure those who need help most aren’t forced to choose between parking and paying bills.
Q2: Why should parking be cheaper for some students and not everyone?
Parking is not just about convenience — for many low-income students, it’s about access to education itself. Some students don’t have the option to live on campus or take public transit, and driving is their only way to get to class. By supporting reduced costs for them, we’re making sure that UCI remains a place where opportunity is based on potential, not on your wallet. That benefits the whole community because when education is more accessible, we all thrive.
Q3: Isn’t this unfair to students who don’t qualify as low-income?
Think about it this way: universities already offer financial aid for tuition, housing, and meals because not every student has the same resources. Parking is no different — it’s a basic cost tied to attending school. Helping low-income students with parking is about leveling the playing field, not giving handouts. And the best part is, it doesn’t take away from anyone else’s access.
Q4: How would the university even pay for this?
There are multiple options. The state of California already invests in programs that reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions. UCI could apply for these grants or reallocate a portion of existing sustainability funds. Additionally, corporate sponsors like local businesses or car companies often support initiatives that promote equity and sustainability on campus. This isn’t about draining UCI’s budget — it’s about being creative and aligning with funding opportunities that already exist.
Q5: Wouldn’t free parking just make more people drive and cause traffic or pollution?
Actually, this initiative focuses on helping students who already have to drive. Many of them live far from campus and don’t have reliable public transit options. By targeting support specifically to low-income students, we’re not encouraging unnecessary driving — we’re simply easing the financial burden for those with no alternatives. Plus, combining this effort with carpool programs or eco-friendly incentives can keep sustainability goals intact.
Q6: Why focus on parking when there are so many other costs at UCI?
Parking is one of the most immediate, daily barriers students face. Imagine waking up, getting ready for class, and realizing you need to spend $81 a month just to park — for some, that’s groceries for the week. By addressing parking, we’re tackling a hidden tuition cost that doesn’t get enough attention. It’s a first step toward a broader vision of making UCI more affordable and inclusive for all.
Proposal for Free Parking for Low-Income Students
Proposal for Free Parking for Low-Income Students
Overview:
Many low-income students struggle with the financial burden of parking fees, which makes it harder for them to access education. This proposal outlines funding solutions to create a sustainable and equitable parking subsidy program at UCI.
Proposed Funding Sources
Proposed Funding Sources
State Transportation Grants
Securing grants can provide the university with long-term funding for parking and transportation solutions.
Potential Grants:
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Clean Mobility Projects
CalTrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants
Active Transportation Program (ATP)
RAISE (Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity Grants)
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grants
These grants can help fund long-term infrastructure changes to our parking system by funding more spaces and expanding alternative forms of transportation, such as more buses, expanded bus lines, school-sponsored carpooling programs, and potential expansions of parking structures.
Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships
Partnering with socially responsible companies can provide funding in exchange for advertising or recognition on campus.
Incentive Program: Offer branding opportunities (ads, event sponsorships) for companies that fund student parking.
Targeted Businesses
Local malls near UCI
Fundraising Events
Organizing high-impact events can generate consistent revenue while raising awareness.
"Park & Run for Education" 5K
Course👉 around the UCI campus
Registration fee: $20-30(?) per runner
Partnerships with running clubs and athletic brands
"Drive-In for a Cause" Movie Night
Hosted in UCI parking lots
Parking spot fee: $10-20 per car
Food truck partnerships to share revenue
"Taste of UCI" Food & Music Festival
Featuring local restaurants, food trucks, and UCI performers
Entry tickets and food/drink sales generate revenue
4. Advocacy for Increased State Education Funding
4. Advocacy for Increased State Education Funding
Securing additional state funding could provide a permanent parking subsidy.
Student Petition: Gather Widespread student support.
Meetings with Lawmakers: Present data-driven cases to local representatives.
Coalition Building: Partner with other student organizations for a more significant impact.
5. UCI could provide further parking with reduced fees exclusively for low-income students.
5. UCI could provide further parking with reduced fees exclusively for low-income students.
UCI should create a targeted parking discount program specifically for students who demonstrate financial need, similar to how other universities offer reduced tuition or housing grants. This reduced-fee permit program could be administered through existing financial aid systems, using EFC (Expected Family Contribution) or Pell Grant eligibility as qualifiers to ensure fairness and transparency.
Key features could include:
Discounted permit rates for students who meet income or financial aid criteria.
Priority eligibility for those living off-campus who cannot rely on public transit.
Partial or fully subsidized parking for students with the greatest financial need, modeled after hardship parking programs at other UC campuses.
Simple application process coordinated through the Office of Financial Aid to avoid additional red tape.
By establishing a reduced-fee permit program, UCI can acknowledge that parking is an educational access issue, not a luxury, and align with its broader mission of supporting equity and inclusion.
The Problem:
The Problem:
At UC Irvine, parking permits are required to park at any spot on campus. Students who rely on their cars to commute to school, and who wish to avoid the onerous citation fees, are forced to pay between 230 and 405 dollars per quarter, or 700 to 1215 dollars per school year, to have the right to park on this campus. Furthermore, these permits only offer space for a very narrow section of the campus, which is a system that is entirely unsuitable for most students, as our classes and commitments are often scattered throughout the campus.
At UC Irvine, parking permits are required to park at any spot on campus. Students who rely on their cars to commute to school, and who wish to avoid the onerous citation fees, are forced to pay between 230 and 405 dollars per quarter, or 700 to 1215 dollars per school year, to have the right to park on this campus. Furthermore, these permits only offer space for a very narrow section of the campus, which is a system that is entirely unsuitable for most students, as our classes and commitments are often scattered throughout the campus.
Over 50% of students at our school are commuters, the vast majority of whom rely on their cars as their primary means of transportation. Many commuters have no other reliable form of transportation, meaning that the Office of Transportation is able to exploit students who have no other choice but to pay exorbitant fees. It must be emphasized that the Office of Transportation charges as much as they do because they know students have no other choice but to pay.
Over 50% of students at our school are commuters, the vast majority of whom rely on their cars as their primary means of transportation. Many commuters have no other reliable form of transportation, meaning that the Office of Transportation is able to exploit students who have no other choice but to pay exorbitant fees. It must be emphasized that the Office of Transportation charges as much as they do because they know students have no other choice but to pay.
Commuters are also more likely to be from lower-income backgrounds, meaning that these onerous fees are being heaped onto students who can least afford them. As a commuter myself, I have felt the frustration and outrage knowing that my means of transportation has caused my family financial pain and burden.
Commuters are also more likely to be from lower-income backgrounds, meaning that these onerous fees are being heaped onto students who can least afford them. As a commuter myself, I have felt the frustration and outrage knowing that my means of transportation has caused my family financial pain and burden.
Unlike the vast majority of other colleges, there are no discounted options for students who need parking only on certain days of the week, no discounts for permits during the summer session or quarters with lower vehicle populations, no discounts for carpoolers, and no discounts or exceptions granted for low-income students.
The current parking system at UC Irvine is cruel, regressive, exploitative, and needs desperate reform.
The Solution:
The Solution:
We must act, in a unified voice, to
We must act, in a unified voice, to
Pressure the administration to offer programs that provide parking cost discounts for low-income students, making the parking system more equitable and humane.
Because commuters tend to be lower income, the burdens of parking-related costs are disproportionately carried by low-income students. This system is deeply unfair and cruel. By offering discounts and citation forgiveness to low-income students, we can make our parking system more equitable and humane. UCLA offers free parking passes for students with extenuating circumstances and rebates for students experiencing financial hardship. I want UCI to follow their lead.
Offer, like every other school, discounted options for students who carpool, freeing up space for students.
Nearly every school, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, and UCSD, offers discounts and cost-sharing programs for students. These programs incentivize students to carpool and reward them by offering significant discounts, with USC even offering free parking passes. A program like this would reduce the number of vehicles on campus, freeing up spaces and reducing costs for everyone.
Demand, through a newly empowered and mobilized student government, for the Administration to take action on parking costs.
It must be reiterated. There is no excuse for the OT to be run as it is. OT charges what they do because they can. No one can tell them otherwise. Your student government is supposed to be your first line of defense from mistreatment by the administration, but for years, we have been divided, disengaged, and weak. As a result, the Administration has been free to ignore our demands. Real change is possible, but we can't do it alone. We will need your engagement, support, and dedication to making enduring change on campus.
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