Meghan Reimer, a third year pre-pharmacy student, has opted to take the bus to avoid the costly parking tickets, extra expense of parking, and struggles with finding a spot at University of Regina.

“I take the bus especially when it’s cold because I don’t want my car to not start,” said Reimer. “I don’t pay for parking because it’s too expensive and there is no guarantee of a good parking spot.”

A registered, paid-up student at the university can ride City of Regina buses for free.

“We can’t opt out so might as well use it,” said Reimer.

Parking passes can vary from $45 to $500 per semester.

“I don’t pay for a parking pass because it’s ridiculous to me that I have to pay over $600 for the year just to find no parking spaces,” said Dacey Latimer, a second-year journalism student. 

An email was sent to the manager of parking services with questions about prices of parking, the strict parking enforcement, financial stress for students, and no reply was sent.

An “M” parking pass costs $236.88 per semester, which provides access to seven lots in total. Jonah Durnin, a second-year political science and geography and environmental studies student, still struggles to find a parking spot.

“Been numerous times where I have spent between 10-20 minutes looking for parking despite holding an M pass,” said Durnin “Sometimes I’m forced to pay for parking by the hour just to get to class on time.” 

As Reimer can take the bus, that’s not always an option for every student.

“I live out of town, so my only way to get to school is commuting by car. If I could take the bus I would,” said Durnin

For Boston Ball, a first-year student in pre-social work, taking the bus also isn’t an option. 

“I often have to drive my brother in the morning and have other commitments in the morning. So when having a morning class there isn’t enough time without being late,” said Ball. 

With having to drive and park at the school that leads to the potential of getting a parking ticket that students try to avoid but have strict rules making it difficult.

“I have been given a few tickets. All of them were very expensive,” said Durnin, “Especially given I was occupying a space for a relatively small time and was in a hurry so the thought of paying completely crossed my mind.”  

Riana Gorrill, a first-year music education student, has different way of seeing tickets then Durnin 

“I was given a ticket once. It felt a little overpriced but reasonable. I was in the wrong, so I felt guilty but not towards the parking,” said Gorrill