University of California - Santa Barbara - Parking

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

“Sucks” and “lame” are the two most often-used words when it comes to parking on campus and in Isla Vista. The campus itself has enough spaces to accommodate all of the cars, but that does not mean that students will find a space anywhere close to where they are headed. Students can only buy a parking permit if they can prove that they are a “commuter” who lives more than two miles from campus. Overall, parking is a nightmare—and even more so in Isla Vista.

Isla Vista has no guarantees on parking. UCSB students quickly become the world’s best parallel parkers, managing to squeeze cars into spaces they would never have attempted before. If students don’t get a reserved parking space that comes with their house or apartment, they usually plan on spending at least five to ten minutes driving around in search of a spot, and do not naively assume that the police are going to let anything slide when it comes to tickets. It’s probably starting to make a little more sense why everyone is in love with his or her bike around here.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

As long as you have a parking... As long as you have a parking permit, parking on campus is easy enough, except on rainy days when everyone is really lazy and willing to buy a day pass for $8. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

Parking sucks. It’s expensive. I... Parking sucks. It’s expensive. I suggest a boycott. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

Parking sucks, but generally,... Parking sucks, but generally, people don’t drive to campus here; we bike. Everything is really close, so it’s not that big of a deal. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

You can get parking if you live in... You can get parking if you live in the dorms, but it’s kind of out of the way. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

Parking is a big negative. I don’t... Parking is a big negative. I don’t know how it is on campus, but, in Isla Vista, depending on where you live, it can be tough to find a spot on the street. The closer you are to the beach, the harder it is. Del Playa is the worse street to find parking. When I lived on DP, there were times where I would have to park a block over and three blocks back. You don’t really need a car, though. It definitely comes in handy, but you can get around campus and IV with just a bike. It’s only when you want to go downtown or into Goleta that a car would be needed. 12345 Parking Report

Did You Know?

Best Places to Find a Parking Spot
By the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSSB) or in the Mesa Parking Structure

Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here!
Near the library or by Campbell Hall

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Michael Cooper
Hometown: Danville, CA
Major: Sociology/Sports Management minor

Michael was on Bob Barker's sixth-to-last Price is Right show and won a trampoline.

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