At Long Beach City College, parking permits are limited to one vehicle. This policy ignores the realities of a commuter campus where many students rely on driving and interchange cars with family members, and is an added stress on top of dealing with high gas prices.
Parking permits at LBCC cost $30 during the fall and spring semesters, and $20 during the winter and summer semesters. While this may not seem like a large expense, it reflects a bigger issue.
Students are being charged for something essential like their access to education.
For many students, the cost of attending college goes far beyond tuition. According to the Center for American Progress, “While tuition costs at two-year colleges remain low relative to those at four-year institutions, increases in nontuition expenses, such as housing, food, transportation, and books, are a greater source of financial strain for college students.”
Many students commute from outside of Long Beach because they can’t afford to live near campus. Others juggle jobs, child care and full course loads, leaving little to no flexibility in their schedules. Even smaller fees can quickly become a burden.
Public transit may be cheaper, but it doesn’t always align with students’ class schedules, especially for early morning or late evening classes, making driving the most reliable option.
Driving comes with its own financial strain. Gas prices in California are consistently among the highest in the nation, often exceeding the national average according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
For students who commute several times a week, transportation can become one of the most expensive parts of attending a community college.
On top of that, the current parking system adds unnecessary limitations. Parking permits at LBCC are restricted to one vehicle per permit, which doesn’t reflect the reality of many students on campus.
As a commuter-heavy campus, students often share cars with family members, switch between vehicles depending on availability, or rely on whichever option is accessible that day.
A one car restriction forces students into difficult situations, especially when their transportation is already unpredictable.
A student can pay for a permit and still be forced to pay again, just for showing up in a different car.
Even after paying for a permit, students aren’t guaranteed a spot at all.
At the start of each semester, students arrive early, make lots of circles and risk being late to class. Students are paying for access but not reliability.
Instead of maintaining a rigid system, LBCC should focus on making parking permits more flexible. Allowing students to register more vehicles on one permit would better reflect the realities of commuters.
Community colleges are meant to be designed to be accessible, but accessibility goes beyond affordable tuition. This includes how students are able to get their education also.
LBCC adopting a more flexible parking system would be a step towards supporting its students.
