University of Wisconsin-Madison students could see fewer mopeds and less congestion between classes this fall, after UW Transportation Services established a new Moped Parking system that aims to cut down intra-campus moped transportation.
Under the new policy, which will take effect Sept. 1, students can purchase a $120 moped parking permit and choose one lot from a list of approved parking lots located throughout campus. The lots are offered at a first-come, first-serve basis.
This differs from past years, when anyone with an $85 permit could legally park in any stall at any moped parking lot on campus.
Moped owners who reside in UW dorms have priority to choose one of the 11 lots located near the residence halls. After two weeks, any unsold permits in these lots will be placed into the general availability pool.
Students could be penalized with a $40 citation if they are not parked in their registered lot or in one of 12 all-access lots from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The 12 all-access lots, which can be used at anytime, are located at various Southeast dorms, Chadbourne Hall, Camp Randall Stadium and various Lakeshore dorms. Registered lots are scattered throughout campus, stretching from the Fluno Center and Memorial Library to Engineering Mall and the UW hospital.
UW-Madison students who own mopeds have expressed concern over the new policy. Sophomore and moped owner Derek Hasanoglu said having one parking spot on the whole campus is “just ridiculous when you’re trying to go to class.”
“Basically it’s kind of making the point of having a moped worthless,” Hasanoglu, who has an apartment on campus and a parking spot on N. Charter Street, said. “My moped is obviously going to be sitting around more than it has to. If I’m going to walk from Humanities from my parking spot I may as well just walk from my apartment.”
Despite student concern, a recent study conducted by UW’s Engineering Department confirmed the need for a safer moped policy, according to UW Transportation Services Specialist Michelle Bacon.
Bacon said researchers discovered the same moped operators were traveling between four to five different lots per day, which contributes to the 30-40 moped accidents per year that cause injuries.
Researchers also observed moped operators illegally parking by fire doors, which poses a safety issue, and on landscaping throughout campus.
