When people think of college, they dream of independence and freedom. But when some arrive, they often come to question just how independent they can be without a car. At Tufts, many students, divided on the issue, fall into two groups - freeloading pedestrians and the vehicular enabled. And even the latter category, it should be noted, must deal with a set of grievances tacked on to their freedom: parking charges, parking problems, and car troubles are just some of the dilemmas that plague student drivers.
Sophomore Lorraine Sensenig said that for her, bringing a car would be more of a hassle than a convenience. "I live too far," the Maryland native said. "It's a pain to have [a car] on campus if it's not used regularly."
But Sensenig admits that there are benefits to having a car. "I think there's no need for it now, but it's an advantage because you can get to places quickly and have more options where to go, and you would never feel isolated on campus," she said.
"It would be easier to go to the grocery store," Sensenig added. "I'll eventually bring my car up, for when I live off campus."
Many students with cars can hardly imagine life without easy transportation. Erika Darling, a senior, loves having a car on campus. "I live 30 minutes away so it's a convenience to be able to go home," she said. But the costs of having a car do add up. Darling estimates that she spends $100 per month on gas, and spent $320 for the Tufts year-long parking permit. On top of this, Darling had an older car last year and had to pay for regular repairs.
For the upcoming academic year, parking permit rates will rise to $360 for residential students and $180 for commuting students. Because of limited parking, freshmen are traditionally not allowed to park on campus except for commuting students and those who have a reasonable excuse, such as an off-campus job.
Upperclassmen are granted more options. Sophomores are normally limited to overnight parking in the lot across from Cousens gym, but may be allowed to park elsewhere on campus depending on parking demand. Juniors and seniors are allowed to park in marked lots on campus, but not on the residential streets of Medford and Somerville, where the towns require their own residential parking permits. If a student wanted to obtain a Medford permit, he or she would have to go through a process that involves transferring the car's registration to Medford, as well as switching to Massachusetts driver licenses and plates.
Parking on non-residential streets (such as Boston Ave.) without going through the transfer process has traditionally been possible, but it is not always a safe bet. The car can be towed during snow emergencies, and students without permits may still be subject to $15 tickets from local police.
Yet many students who have cars at school say they can't live without. Chris Lee, a senior who lives off campus, needs his car to drive to a part-time job. "I hardly bring my car on campus, and if I do it's usually at night when they don't ticket. During the day I just walk to class," Lee said.
For freshmen and sophomores living on campus, however, cars are not yet a major concern.
"It's definitely not my first priority because it's so easy getting around Boston with the T and taxis, which are cheaper," Bjerke said. "It's nice to have, but not necessarily essential."
