Right before I graduated, friends at Tallahassee Community College had warned
me about parking at Florida State.
By Kimberly Wheatley
Communication, Class of `96
The sweltering heat from the pavement seemed to yell at me. It was scolding me for not listening. I painfully absorbed the discipline that first day of classes in August while walking miles from my parking place in front of the Leon County Library to my class in the Diffenbaugh Building.
Right before I graduated, friends at Tallahassee Community College had warned
me about parking at Florida State.
"Take the bus," rang through my head.
"Surely, it can't be that bad," I thought as I stood in line, eager to purchase my very first decal at parking services.
I was in a state of denial.
My denial transformed into reality when I saw the vast sea of cars along College Avenue and Jefferson Street. This sea had turned into an ocean by the time I got to class.
A light came on in my head, reminding me that I had a choice. I could come to campus between 3 and 5 a.m. and surely find a spot to park, or I could take the bus. I decided to take the advice that I had heard at TCC.
"Take the bus," again rang through my head.
I had learned my lesson. I made up my mind to brave the shuttle buses. On the second day of classes, I found the dusty parking lot across from parking services near Doak Campbell Stadium. An attendant showed me where to park and wished asked for no money.
The bus came right away.
My pain was eased when I hopped on the GOLD bus and traveled from the stadium bus depot to the Westcott Building in only eight minutes. The ride was cool, relaxed, easy, safe, everything the walk had not been. The driver told me to have a nice day as my rested feet took me across the street to class. I had made the right decision to ride the bus.
To ease the pain of leaving our cars behind, FSU has made the buses convenient, with detailed maps of the Garnet, Gold, Renegade, and Tomahawk routes available at Parking Services; on-time shuttles every 10 or 15 minutes, depending on the route; and no need to show ID. If you're at the stop, you are assumed to be on university business and you can get on the bus.
Taltran also runs buses to football games. The Tribe Ride departs from Governor's Square, Tallahassee Mall and Ramada Inn North one hour before kickoff. The round trip is $4 per person. For $2.50, you can ride the Spirit Express from the Civic Center, where parking is free. Shuttles leave the Civic Center continuously beginning one-and-a-half hours before kickoff and shuttle back and forth during the game. Children under 12 ride free, and all buses make accommodations for the disabled.
There's more. According to Paul Rothenberg of Taltran, FSU students can now ride any Tallahassee Taltran routes fare-free and can bring bikes for free on nine routes.
I am still proud of my Seminole heritage despite the minor hurdle of parking. There are a lot of things that Florida State has improved on. Parking is not one of them, but there is an alternative.