to say that students shouldn't own cars?

[carlajean]

I'm living in Bristol, which is rolling out Residents Parking Schemes throughout the city (an excellent idea, I think). We have lots of students here, which is great, but many of them own cars. If they didn't, the streets would be considerably quieter. I know that other universities tell students that they can't have cars, and I really can't see why they would need them, and it would be a good way of helping with parking problems .

Lets be clear - we aren't talking about students who need to travel from far and wide or disabled/muture students with kids. We are talking more specifically about those who live a reasonable distance from uni, usually in an HMO, who could walk or use public transport yet still choose to have a car.

Cheers!

There is no valid reason for a student to drive a car, proving they live in the same city as there uni is based in.

By that logic there is no valid reason for anyone to have a car.

Or you could think beyond the end of your own nose and realise that students arent 'just students' they are also employees, parents, carers, volunteers, patients, emergency contacts, support networks and many more things that require them having a car. Just like the people who are all those things but dont study as well.

Hang on, how many posters are the same MNetters who've been on other threads claiming that they'll all get their children driving in their teens, and that it's an essential life skill?
Are all the anti-student drivers going to promise that they won't allow their children to have driving lessons until they have graduated?
Good luck with taking their licenses away when they go to uni and insisting that they leave the car at home.

MartinJD: People of all categories, ages, abilities and employment statuses use cars where they could easily get a bus or train. Why should students be singled out?

blu: Because students tend to live in densely populated HMO's in student areas, along side local residents. Roads are designed for a max of two cars per family, not eight.

Also student accommodation blocks are usually unwelcome by the local community for various reasons, but end up being giving planning permission anyway, under the proviso that students don't bring their cars with them, as a sweetener to the local residents (which is usually un enforceable anyway).

Seriously? Is there really a way to legally 'ban' a student from having a car?

OK, I'm in the US so I know it's different here, but my sons both got their license and a car when they turned 16. Both of them drove to uni every day from home. Saved a huge amount on residence fees and public transport where we live is shit.

Maybe Residents Parking permits should be limited to one per house.

This is a problem that is bound to get worse as population expands and car ownership expands. Also as house prices rise and offspring stay living at home rather than move out, houses with 4 cars out front will become more common. I just don't see how students can be separated out for something that is legal just because they have a particular lifestyle.

And imagine the admin and paperwork for each and every student: has car , can only drive it in parents' rural county / has car can only use it outside city limits / has car can only use I in the holidays because of job as brush salesperson / lives 40 mins walk: not allowed car.....

Just because someone feels frustrated with a situation doesn't mean that someone else can have their rights downgraded to make it better for them!

Is there really a way to legally 'ban' a student from having a car?

I dont see how there could be. People would just deny they had the cars and it would be up to the university to spy on them to find out. Completely ridiculous.

Maybe Residents Parking permits should be limited to one per house.

This is already happening (two cars per house hold i believe) in many areas across the country.

Obviously students should not and will not be legally banned from having a car, however discouraging them from taking a car with them to university should be welcomed in order to help to solve the shortage of parking spaces in densely populated student areas.

This IS NOT a panacea for our over crowded student towns, but not sure what some of you aren't understanding here?

Cheers!

Really there are so many places ( hospitals, business centres,) you could say should discourage their employees/patrons from bringing cars- this just smacks of picking on younger people.

SurlyCue: Actually, you'll find a lot of hospitals and business don't allow staff to park on site, and actually prioritise what limited spaces they have.

Out of interest then in order to not "pick on younger people" What do you suggest we do to remedy the problem i described in my post above?

At no point have i said this.But anyway, given your misunderstanding of communism, are we to assume your broadband provider is a communist organisation for throttling your bandwidth at peak times?

I don't know why I am arguing with you about communism, but you did indeed suggest a non-market, authoritarian, discriminatory solution to the problem (i.e. very communist). I, on the other hand, suggested two that don't have any of those properties.

it's very clear who has no idea what communism is.

OK, I'm in the US so I know it's different here, but my sons both got their license and a car when they turned 16. Both of them drove to uni every day from home. Saved a huge amount on residence fees and public transport where we live is shit.

yes, it is very different here. towns are not structured so that everyone can drive to work. many people (full grown adults included) will commute to work by walking or public transport even outside London. Bristol is a bit of an odd place in that it is quite dense and big, but the transport system is really bad.

so no, not everyone can just have a car and drive to uni. there simply isn't enough parking available.

i note that you completely dodged my question.

Out of interest then in order to not "pick on younger people" What do you suggest we do to remedy the problem i described in my post above?

Aside from the fact i'm not a Bristol town planner and never claimed to have a "please everyone" solution, one that doesnt discriminate against a group just because they also study (on top of everything else they do in their daily lives) would be preferable.

My only reply to this ridiculous thread is that we were very specifically told that it will be in our interests to have a car next year for our placements.

Why don't you get rid of your car and take the bus? Why does your 'need' to run a car trump a student's?

I'm a mature teacher training student. I drive an hour each way to get to University (nearest one!) from where I live and I need the car to get to school placements, each can be within 1.5 hrs of my home.
I'd rather get to University early and grab a space in the carpark but spaces are so very limited. Sometimes my lectures don't start until 10am so there are no spaces, I do park on residential streets but we have to move our cars every 2 hours with the permits we're given.
Should universities build multi storey car parks? Would that be a workable solution?

i note that you completely dodged my question.

I gave two suggestions, but I am not a town planner.

OP

I really think you need to FOTTFSOF

Of course students are as entitled as anyone else to have cars, as long as they abide by the same parking restrictions etc. My daughter had a job as a student which would have meant dodgy late night buses and a walk home, so I was glad she had a car.

Plus it meant she could move herself each year and we didn't have to always commute up with her stuff.

one that doesnt discriminate against a group just because they also study (on top of everything else they do in their daily lives) would be preferable.

So your not actually able to offer a solution then? quelle surprise.

In Cambridge undergraduates are not allowed cars within 10 miles of the city centre without having obtained a permit. So it can be done.

The issue I think with students having cars is that a most campuses do not have parking for students so they are pushed onto surrounding streets. This is compounded by a lot of campuses being in residential areas. Imagine if it was a company in a reaidential area that had a few thousand people working there but no parking. The surrounding roads would be carnage as a result (and the company wouldn't have got planning permission in the first place).

There are of course good reasons for some students to have cars, but there are also many students who have them just because they can and want to. Nothing wrong with that per se but it gives problems if the infrastructure isn't there to cope with it.

Are you kidding!! The public transport in Bristol is bloody awful and very expensive.
It is no busier than any other city and as you have your own car very hypocritical of you!
I live just outside of Bristol and think YABVU.
They pay tax and insurance as do you so why shouldn't they drive... Oh is it because they might park in your street!
I moved out Clifton for this reason so if it bothers you that much move :)

Plus it meant she could move herself each year and we didn't have to always commute up with her stuff.
Because little Jemima couldn't possibly use public transport with all those books and clothes!

What fanatically selfish reasoning.

Try living in Cathays. Once you get home you are in for the night. There isn't a street a good 10 minute walk away either. Shit or bust (unless its summer or Christmas)

But thats life I'm afraid. YABU but I feel your pain!