Parking and Cars

by Shaemus Cowan and Aden Ray

There has never been a good time to park at KU.

University in the 1920s

By the 1920s, more and more students began to bring cars to college as owning a vehicle became more mainstream. The university had to scramble to build an infrastructure for the flood of cars as well as implement rules and restrictions for the safety of students. The chancellor at the time wanted to ban cars on campus, and several student groups protested the use of cars, calling it an issue of "mortality rather than morality."

1985 UDK Comic

In this comic published by the University Daily Kansan in 1985, the simple but satirical message speakes volumes to the issue of parking and congestion at KU. The message still rings true today, as parking tickets are given left and right to those who cannot find a spot. We see that parking has become an issue for everyone, not just those with cars.

There Must Be a Better Way

Public opinion about the KU parking situation over time has been tough, and this opinion article from the UDK questions if there is a better way for parking to function at the University. It is a question that has been asked by nearly everyone. We begin to see parking reform and new startegies be created after this artcile was published.

Ellsworth Parking 1971

This article was written in response to letter to the editor of the UDK as there was no increase in parking made, but a large increase in the population of Daisy Hill, especially around Ellsworth. This is a problem as more people means more cars, but no more parking was provided and this created increased congestion and frustration from those with cars.

It’s nearly impossible to have a car on campus and never get a parking ticket. For incoming freshmen, the color-coded parking system is difficult to understand, and the lack of parking is a nuisance to anyone who needs it. From expensive passes to overall confusion, having a car at KU is quite the mess. The issue of parking on campus is not new. As soon as cars became mainstream -- as soon as students had cars -- the University of Kansas has struggled to manage the matter of cars at the university. Campus was not built for cars or traffic, and the wave of vehicles at KU became a nuisance for everyone from students and faculty in danger to administration.

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