Dear University Parking Rules and Regulations Committee,

We, the concerned students and of Old Dominion University, urge you to reconsider the current parking rules, regulations and unfair conditions implemented on our university campus. The existing system has proven to be unfair and burdensome for majority of participants involved. We believe that by implementing necessary changes, we can create a more equitable and accessible parking environment. 

1. Insufficient Parking Spaces: The current number of available parking spaces falls short of meeting the demands of our growing university community. This results in overcrowded lots and limited options for students who commute daily and those who reside on campus. 

2. High Cost of Permits and Citations. The exorbitant fees associated with obtaining a parking permit or receiving and citation/boot place an undue financial burden on students already struggling with tuition costs. These fees specifically disproportionately affect low-income students who may have no other transportation options. 

3. Lack of Transparency: There is a lack of transparency regarding how funds generated from parking permits are utilized within the university community. It is essential that these funds are reinvested into improving parking infrastructure rather than being diverted elsewhere.

4. Alternative Transportation Options Ignored: By neglecting alternative transportation options such as bike lanes or public transit integration, the university fails to promote sustainable commuting practices among its community members.

5. Inefficiency in Enforcement: Current enforcement methods often result in unjust fines due to the limited spaces presented to students.

6. Moving Vehicles on Game Days: The current parking system regarding home football and badketball games is seen as unjust. Requiring students to move their car from majority of residential/commuter lots on game days itself is biased; in addition to inconveniencing students, excessive fees and enforcements are also used pertaining to students who may not remember to move their car, or are not aware of these conditions. 

We call upon the University Parking Rules and Regulations Committee to address these concerns by taking the following actions:

a. Increase the number of available parking spaces for Residential and Commuter students on campus to accommodate the growing university community, while simultaneously decreasing the number of faculty and reserved spots. Additionally, combining commuter lots to also serve as residential lots to ensure the usage of every space on campus (ex. Lot 1, next to WHRO radio station).

b. Enforce the rule of disallowing incoming freshman students to attend the university with their cars, with the exception of commuters.

c. Reduce parking permit citations and fees, especially for low-income students, to ensure accessibility and affordability for everyone. 

d. Enhance transparency by providing detailed public reports on how parking funds are dispersed into the university community. 

e. Invest in alternative transportation options such as bike lanes and public transit integration (ex. more buses, ways to reach train stations and monorails) to encourage sustainable commuting practices.

f. Review enforcement methods and reasons/chances to appeal citations to ensure fairness, clarity, and effective communication between enforcement officers and parkers.

g. Review current football/basketball home game parking system and change the designated areas for guests to park in to reduce the amount of students who have to move their cars due to high volume of game attendees.  

By signing this petition, we express our collective concern for a fairer and more accessible campus parking system at Old Dominion University.

Sincerely, the student population at Old Dominion University 
Norfolk, Virginia