Chief of Police Dennis Butler knows he cannot personally create more parking on the streets in Ottawa.
However, his suggestions for residents, faculty and students of Ottawa are simple.
“People will have to walk further and be considerate,” he said.
These suggestions come after residents have called the police department with complaints of congested traffic on Oak and Poplar streets.
“There was a resident that couldn’t get out of her driveway,” Butler said. “There were cars on both sides of the driveway and one parked across the street in front of it.”
Over the holiday season, a flyer was sent via campus e-mail to the student body and given to residents who live on Oak and Poplar Street. In this flyer, Butler suggests that students, faculty and others parking on these streets be considerate to others.
“There are always parking spots available,” Lisa Thomsen, director of student life said. “I don’t like to walk in the cold either, but there is always parking by the maintenance building.”
Sophomore Adam Henn doesn’t seem to think there’s much of a parking problem on campus.
“I think people forget about the parking behind the Hull Center,” Henn said. “I also think they choose not to park there because they think it is a ‘long’ walk when there isn’t a long walk anywhere on campus.”
Although a flyer was sent out, Butler is surprised that someone had called in a complaint since then.
“A woman had a complaint because a car was parked right in front of her driveway,” he said. “It was called into dispatch and someone recognized the name and contacted the person.”
Thomsen agrees while this may be frustrating, there’s a solution to this problem.
“Plan ahead and get here earlier,” she said.
Butler also encourages residents to call the police station if they have a complaint about parking.
“The best way isn’t to lock people up,” he said. “It’s about raising awareness. If we all take action, there are no excuses.”
Last year, parking was eliminated on Mulberry Street. Butler said he does not see this happening on Oak and Poplar Street.
“Mulberry is a narrow street,” he said. “It became hazardous for emergency vehicles when there was parking on both sides of the street.”
Henn says students should just be glad they have parking.
“You wouldn’t even come close to getting a parking spot like we do at a larger university,” Henn said. “My solution is for students to walk.”