Parking and transportation have been contentious issues for Fayetteville the last few years, and a new survey shows how students feel about transportation issues on the University of Arkansas campus.
The survey, compiled over the last few weeks by the student government, asks students a variety of questions, ranging from how satisfied students are with transportation to what students think about tuition and politics.
Results of University of Arkansas survey show parking and transportation among the top issues for students.
The past few years have brought restrictions on parking in and around the university area. Mayoral hopeful Dan Coody even campaigned with the promise to fix growing parking regulations in Fayetteville, before losing in November to incumbent Lioneld Jordan.
The Fayetteville City Council most recently decided to prohibit students and non-residents from parking on a city block near the university, but that has not stopped students from using their vehicles around campus, according to the survey.
More than 86 percent of the 2,713 respondents said they have a vehicle in Fayetteville, and 83 percent stated they use their cars as their primary means of transportation.
Parking fees have also not deterred students from using their own transportation, as 41 percent of students said they usually park in a parking garage. About 45 percent stated they usually park in students-only lots.
Results are mixed on students’ experiences with parking garages. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the least satisfied), 57 percent of the 720 students who responded rate their parking experience in the garages as a 3 or lower.
The student government will use the results as a guide while setting university policy, according to a statement from the Associated Student Government of the University of Arkansas.
