UPEI parking lots overflowing

It's tough to find a parking space at the University of Prince Edward Island, and the school would like to do something about it, but that doesn't mean building more parking lots.

For reasons both practical and environmental, the UPEI is looking at ways to encourage students and staff to leave their cars at home.

"When you look at the area view of the campus, you see that the parking lots dominate this acreage and the green space doesn't," said Almut Bringer, UPEI's director of environmental studies and sustainability.

Bringer is also heading up a university project to improve transportation to the campus.

"In my view of the world, the green space should dominate."

But convincing people to find other ways to get to campus will be difficult.

"There's so many cars around and so people decide to take them instead of walking and be late," said student Michelle Macdonald.

She drives to school every day, but confesses it would not be difficult for her to walk.

"I actually do just live across the road, but I take my car anyway."

The university is looking at a number ofways to encourage otherforms of travel: pathways leading from a local bike trail, better bike racks and a carpool website so people looking for passengers can find them

"It's going to be a push. All of us like driving because it's efficient and we can do it when we want," admits Bringer.

"But there are other modes of transportation available now in Charlottetown, including a public transit system."

Many students have to drive

While many students live close by, a large number live outside the city. With no public transit beyond Charlottetown, they have little choice but to drive to campus.

Transportation consultant Mike Skene has developed plans for other campuses and will also consult on the UPEI project.

"We need to try to influence those who can walk, or can bike, or can take transit," said Skene.

One simple way of doing that, he said, is to look at the cost of parking permits. A permit at UPEI costs about $80. At the University of British Columbia, permits cost more than $600.

In a city that has had a public transportation system for less than a year, weaning people off their cars could be a particular challenge.