Northern Michigan University has a parking problem.
Any student on this campus with a car, and even some of those who don’t, know just how bad the parking problem is.
My first year on NMU’s campus I didn’t have a car, but while riding passenger princess in all my friends’ cars I got my first taste of just how bad parking was here. I remember darting between the aisles of cars in the parking lot near Hunt in hopes of not having to walk far. Inevitably we’d have to settle for the parking lot near the soccer fields or the police department.
At this point I’m convinced no matter how hard the student body complains nothing will be done.
Since becoming a commuter I’ve realized just how bad parking can get.
This is my second year being a commuting student, some would say I’m a seasoned pro at this point. I know what lots to hit at what times. And what lots are better when you need to get to a certain location.
So, if you’re struggling to park this year let me help you out. I sure wish I had someone tell me what lots are the best. Get your NMU parking maps ready ladies and gents, I’ll be sharing all my tips and gamer hacks to getting a parking spot on a campus that has too many cars.
My favorite lot, and the one you’ll find the Megan Mobile parked in on Tuesdays and Thursdays is lot 11. Lot 11 is the one behind where the old library was. If you weren’t here to experience the great Lydia M. Olsen, it is near Harden Hall. This lot is pretty centralized and gets you right to Harden Hall in steps, which then leads you to Jamrich and the academic mall. This lot is pretty lowkey, and if you come before the hours of 11 a.m. and after 1:30 p.m. you’ll almost definitely score a spot. The walking distance to the closest building is short, which is great in the winter time. It’s also located just a short drive from Wright street so you don’t have to drive throughout campus to get back on a main road. This lot is an all around good option for those looking to get a spot quickly and have a short walk.
The second lot I typically park in is lot 8, which is the Northern Center’s parking lot. This is a very dependable lot because the only people who park there are the cosmetology students, people who work in the Northern Center and visitors—which surprisingly isn’t many people. Not many people park in this lot since it’s a longer walk to most buildings on campus, so there’s always open spots. The down side is a longer walk, but it’s good to get your steps in! In the winter time you can building hop so it’s not as cold, and when it’s nice in the spring and fall you can walk outside the buildings. This lot is super close to Fourth street so you can dodge campus traffic while still being in an easily accessible lot.
On the flip side, my least favorite commuter lot is lot 29, the lot right across from Jamrich. I have attempted to park in this lot multiple times, and I’ve only found spots after 4 p.m. A girl can only try a lot so many times before she gives up. After never finding a spot in this lot, I found myself no longer trying because it wasn’t worth the time, or the gas to be driving around campus like a crazy lady after not finding a spot. If you’re a new commuter I wouldn’t even bother with this lot unless you have a crazy early class, or are crazy lucky with finding parking.
My month of being a commuter student last year was a wild one, trying to figure out parking on this campus is hard. A large population of our campus are commuters, and a large majority of the students living on campus have their cars. That’s a lot of cars! Just remember if one lot doesn’t have a spot in it for you, another one hopefully will. Try to wake up a little earlier, because on this campus spots can be hard to come by, and you don’t want to be running across campus because you had to park in lot 29.
