Parking is a growing issue in the neighborhoods surrounding Bakersfield College.
“I don’t know what to do, where to go next or who to talk to,” said Olga Valenzuela, who has lived in the neighborhood two streets south of Bakersfield College for 16 years.
“The parking here is ridiculous, they park everywhere, they trash my yard, they pop my sprinklers. The alley, there is no access for the trash people to come and pick up our trash so we are going to have a can there for another two weeks,” Valenzuela said.
She says students from BC park up and down her street every single day of the school year. They park on the curbs and even block the fire hydrant.
“I usually park across the street so I don’t have to pay for parking and just deal with it, it’s just easier,” said Marc Born, a BC student.
All students have the option to park at one of four lots on campus, but a parking pass costs between $30 and $40.
Students can buy a pass by using their id number and have the option to get one throughout the year, but not all take advantage of that.
“It’s the first week of school and I haven’t got a parking permit so I parked in one of these neighborhoods,” said Juan Perez, a BC student.
Olga said this year, so far, has been the worst year yet.
“It’s bad, it’s gotten worse, it’s like each year it’s like doubles.”
She does not know where to turn for answers.
“Everybody else is getting signs, how they got them, I don’t know.”
She decided to do the same.
“I had to put signs to see if it would work, so far its working, they stay off our lawn but the parking issue, it’s bad, very bad.”
Taking matters into her own hands is paying off so far for Olga.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, the Bakersfield Police Department is aware of this illegal parking and is starting to hand out citations.
BC is also trying to help by promoting parking permits on their website and to new students during orientation.
