Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Parking Analysis
Introduction
This report addresses the parking issues at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach. Persistent parking shortages have been a common problem on university campuses across the United States (Schmidt & Westley, 2013). ERAU is one of the universities in the United States that faces parking problems. The problem may be linked to both insufficient space for parking and the poor allocation of the space. The university is playing monopoly in provision of the service hence the situation. Analyzing an online survey I conducted recently, more than 80 percent of the students surveyed of ERAU live outside the campus halls of residence. Out of this percentage, more than ninety eight percent of the off campus students use personal cars as their primary means of transport.
The students surveyed face difficulties in finding a parking space within the university delaying them for classes while trying to find a parking lot. The students faced with this parking challenge believe the university can solve the problem by creating more space. This report is aimed at informing the ERAU administration about the parking situation. The commuter students are persistently getting late for class, hence the need to address the issue with speed as this could adversely affect their learning.
This report vividly covers the parking situation in ERAU, providing the real parking situation at ERAU relying on the survey conducted. The report presents a research conducted on the problem. It will discuss the research methods used both primary and secondary, how the research was conducted and the reasons for the research. The report will eventually present the concrete information gathered. The opinions of different students surveyed will be considered in making recommendations for the parking situation.
Methodology
The web Survey
The web survey included creating a survey on surveymonkey.com on June 1, 2013. I was assigned a website link directing the respondents to the created survey. I forwarded the link to the target audience for their response. The website link was embedded on my blog which is followed by some of the students from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. I also emailed the link to some student respondents. I also shared the link on my Facebook as well as Twitter pages. The web link survey took place between the June2 up to the June 4, 2013.
During the survey period, 52 respondents filled in the online questionnaire and submitted their views. The survey contained questions on the parking situation in ERAU and sought to find out whether the respondents lived on or off campus. The respondents had to state the primary mode of transportation they used. They answered as to whether they were satisfied with the parking situation at ERAU campus. The respondents explained how they were late for class trying to locate a parking space as well as the time they spent looking for the parking spot. They responded as to the amount of time they stayed at ERAU’s campus during the week days. They gave their thoughts as to whether they believed the parking situation at ERAU’s campus could be solved or not. Those that believed the parking situation could be solved suggested the ways of solving the problem that each of them deemed appropriate.
Observations at ERAU’s Parking Space
Observations on the parking space problem were conducted between the 1st and 4th of June, 2013. During the observation period twenty one students were observed. These observations were made during the day especially during the start of morning and afternoon classes. During these periods more lessons were scheduled to start and that is when the commuter students arrived searching for parking spaces. The time taken to find a parking space by each arriving student was recorded and compared to the start of lessons which was assumed at 8 a.m. for morning classes and at 2 p.m. for afternoon classes. The observations also noted those who violated the parking rules for the university, such as parking in the spaces that did not belong to their respective faculties. The response of the parking crew on the parking regulation violations was observed as well as the fines and punishment administered to the students.
The online survey method of collecting data was chosen over the other methods since most students accessed the internet much of their time studying or socializing. The observation method was effective as it was thought to give timely and reliable information regarding the parking situation at ERAU’s campus. The report approaches the parking situation from the students’ point of view considering that the parking situation influences their punctuality for classes. They often delay for lessons for up to 10 minutes affecting their studies. Given the increasing population of students using cars as the primary mode for transport, the university administration was considered to have encountered challenges in providing the parking service. The report was limited the smaller number of respondents and the time for collection of data.
Facts
The report entails the concrete information that was gathered from the research carried out on the parking situation at ERAU’s campus. Fifty two respondents made up the web link survey. Eighty percent of the fifty two respondents were found to be commuter students living off the campus while 2o percent lived within the university. More than 98 percent of the respondents used cars to commute to the campus as the major transportation mode. They made up 98.08 percent while those that used other means of transportation made u 1.92 percent. There were no students who were found to use trucks and motorcycles to commute to the university. Forty three students out of the 52 interviewed were dissatisfied with the ERAU’s campus parking situation, making up 80 percent while those satisfied were only at 20 percent.
Thirty seven students of the 52 respondents (71.15 percent) were late for class trying to find a parking space at ERAU’s campus. 28.85 percent were not late and partly because they reported into the university earlier enough to have time looking for a parking spot. Majority of the took 6-10 minutes trying to find a parking space (44.23 percent), 32.69 percent took between 1-5 minutes, 23.08 percent spent 11-15 minutes while 19.23 percent spent more than 16 minutes. 46.15 percent of the respondents stayed for 3-6 hours in the campus during week days, 34.62 for 6-9 hours, and 19.23 percent for more than 10 hours while only 7.69 percent of the respondents stayed for 1-3 hours.
A greater percentage of the students believe that the parking situation at ERAU’s campus can be improved. They make up 92.31 percent of the respondents while only 11.54 percent think that the situation cannot get better than it is at the moment. Out of the students that believed improvements were possible, 53.85 percent suggested the provision of more parking spaces as the way out. 48.08 percent gave the possibility of an exterior parking garage as the solution. 21.15 percent suggested the introduction of bus shuttles so as to eliminate a good numbers of cars from getting into the ERAU’s campus and thus containing the situation. 21.15 percent of the respondents suggested other ways of improving the parking situation. Other respondents thought the first come first served principle was unfair and that the summer parking lots be fixed while the colored lots remained in effect. Other respondents believed increasing the parking fee would minimize the number of students using cars.
There are those students who suggested that the blue parking spots should be increased while the yellow parking lots reduced. The observations made for 20 students having difficulties finding parking space revealed the same results as the online survey. However, it was noted that some students violated the colored parking spots. They parked their cars the available spot, considering that the opportunity cost of paying a fine was less costly as compared to getting late for a class. The normal parking that depended on the first come first served basis arrived much earlier prior to the start of their classes.
Recommendations
Considering the parking situation, the report recommends to the administration for more parking spaces. This could be achieved by building storey parking space. The cost for expanding the parking space could be met by slightly increasing the parking fee. The fee increment would also help discourage the wide use of cars and encourage other modes of transport therefore a contributory situation to the situation. Since the ERAU’s parking situation requires urgent solutions, the university administration should address the issue so that students get ample time getting to class.
References
Bjorklund, B., Bourne, W., Cranford, B., Goss, C., McGrath, C., & Price, D. (2005).University of West Florida Parking Study. University of West Florida.
Grey, D. A. (2010). Tulane University Students’ Replies to Transportation, Parking, and Energy Use Survey. Tulane University.
Ibrahim (2013). SurveyMonkey - Aanmelden. Retrieved June 5, 2013, from http://www.surveymonkey.com/analyze/?survey_id=41693694
Schmidt, B. H., & Westley, C. (2013). The University-as-Monopolist: Why Parking Problems Persist at University Campuses. Journal of Applied Business and Economics.
