Show SCORING SCARING IN THE PARKING LOT Tips for FiM Finding ga a Spot Josh Hansen Staff Writer Ah Au parking its such a beautiful beautiful beautiful beau beau- word but such a horrible nightmare Whenever you hop into your car odds are that you are going to park the car somewhere somewhere somewhere some some- where other than your driveway or garage Whether it is going to the store library an entertainment entertainment entertainment entertain entertain- ment event McDonalds McDonald's or school its it's inevitable whether you want to or not you have todeal to todeal todeal deal with it Its It's especially hard finding a parking spot on the Redwood Campus I was a little bit overwhelmed overwhelmed overwhelmed over over- whelmed on the first day of school to find that I had to park what seemed like a mile away from my class That was over a month ago since then I have learned how to beat the system I commute to the Redwood Campus every other morning For those who have experienced the commute know f morning the frustration of finding a convenient convenient convenient con con- parking spot It seems as though as soon as you find that spot a scenario of events seem happen 1 The person that got into their car are just chillin oblivious of the fact that there are others waiting on them 2 there is another car waiting forthe for forthe forthe the spot or 3 there is a car that is taking up two parking spots oh that is so annoying You can spend almost a half- half hour looking for a spot and if you arent aren't careful and arrive earlier earlier earlier ear ear- lier you can end up missing a majority of class Really folks who wants to leave a hour half-hour earlier in the morning Nobody That's why I have taken note the past month on the techniques that work in getting the best spot available when you need it and where you want it My first fust recommendation is this GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME Dont Don't wait until the last minute to get out of the door Wake up early grab a quick breakfast do something that want leave you pressed for time Another suggestion is timing timing timing tim ing The whole secret to finding a spot is timing Classes tend to get out around 15 to 20 minutes before the hour So if you have a 9 am a.m. class get there around 50 to insure that the outgoing outgoing outgoing outgo outgo- ing students are walking out to their cars I thought that I ered the fountain of youth when I discovered this concept It works The only downsize to this is that the fact that you are stalking stalking stalking stalk ing an individual Its It's probably happened to you its it's happened to tome tome tome me and believe me it is a strange feeling But if you dont don't like the stalking concept then try this technique that a friend of mine told me I like to call it the friendly neighbor approach When I heard this I was a little shocked that this approach works Basically you find someone someone someone some some- one that is walking back to their car and you roll down your window window window win win- dow and tell them that you need a spot Then generally they lead you over to their car Crazy huh Talk about convenient This has been the most convenient thing since thru drive-thru breakfast It does work So there you go There are the three keys to getting a good parking spot Give yourself enough time time your timing and be a little friendly Pretty simple concepts but Im I'm living proof that it works Give it a try it wouldn't hurt What are you waiting for |