The first step in getting a post-secondary education is attending classes, yet consistent and reliable transportation can be difficult for student commuters.
“Despite working a full-time job, I still can’t afford to pay for the parking or the parking pass,” said Annike Nettinga, a first-year Durham College (DC) student in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program.
Students who commute to DC and Ontario Tech’s north Oshawa campus have the option of paying for a parking pass, or relying on public transportation, which is included in student ancillary fees. The U-Pass provides full-time students with unlimited access to Durham Region Transit (DRT).
While the U-Pass is helpful for some students, transit isn’t always viable.
Nettinga lives a 13-minute drive from campus but far from a bus stop. She said the long commute has caused her to miss most of her classes this semester.
The parking lots are managed by a third-party operator, Precise ParkLink. The company has managed parking on campus since 2015 and expanded to being an industry and research partner in 2020 with the Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE).
Six parking lots with varying prices are available on campus and parking passes can be purchased by semester or annually. Daily parking is also offered in some of the lots, ranging from $5 to $18 per hour. The parking lots on campus are shared by both DC and Ontario Tech students.
By contrast, Fleming and Fanshawe colleges offer free general parking on some of their campuses while Niagara and Humber list daily rates of $10 and $12.
With the higher pricing at Durham, those extra dollars add up quickly for students who are already trying to budget.
For those who do drive, the added expense of parking on campus only increases the financial strain. The National Student Loans Service Centre and Canada Revenue Agency, both report that financial burdens are the primary source of stress for students.
Mel Seymour, a first-year nursing student at Ontario Tech, chose to pay for an annual parking pass.
“Paying for parking is definitely something I’m debating leaving out of my budget for next year,” said Seymour, who is rethinking paying for a pass because of high costs and crowded lots.
“It doesn’t feel worth it anymore,” Seymour said, adding that he is always competing to find a spot.
“I don’t even have an issue with the walking distance that much,” said Seymour who parks at Founders 5, near the Campus Ice Centre.
While Seymour doesn’t have a problem with walking the distance to Founders 5, weather conditions and after dark can be problematic.
The Campus Walk Program walks anyone from DC and Ontario Tech to their car on campus. “The service is utilized multiple times a week by students, staff and visitors to our campuses,” said Peter Trimble, manager of public safety and security at DC.
“Training consists of an in-person session, followed by pairing new student workers with experienced ones,” said Trimble, adding the free service is provided year-round.
Students still have financial and scheduling obstacles with fitting transportation into their budget.
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada said half of Canadians in the 18 to 24 age range have student loans.
“I can’t be forking out $15 a day and still afford my necessities,” said Nettinga. “I have no other options.”
For many students, cost and availability of transportation remain significant barriers in attending class, forcing tough financial decisions that can impact their education.