Opinion

Lots of stupidity

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At least they’re listening — understanding is another matter.

The UW transportation committee has backed off somewhat from its original plan to make most libraries and other places of student interest less accessible to cars and thus make unsafe late-night walks more likely.

The most recent version of the plan attempts to appease concerned students by making lots 1 (Memorial Union), 6 upper (Helen C. White), 43 (Natatorium), 47 (University Square) and 66 (Nielsen Tennis Stadium) available to the public after 10 p.m.

But this does not make any of the lots more accessible. In fact, 43 and 66 will be less accessible than they are currently.

Moreover, the plan still makes parking in lots 3 (Memorial Library), 6 lower (Helen C. White), 7 (Grainger) and 91 (SERF) more restrictive as well.

In short, the transportation is pressing on with a plan that makes parking near libraries and other areas of student interest less — not more — accessible. This despite the fact increasing parking is one of the most effective and inexpensive means to increase campus safety. Especially disturbing is the lapse between the committee’s rationale and its actions. The transportation committee says it will not open some lots because it is worried about students driving to bars. So why open University Square, the lot with the greatest proximity to State Street? We have repeatedly editorialized that we support having stricter enforcement times on weekends, as long as students can study safely during the week.

It is clear that in the eyes of the transportation committee, students are an interest group to appease, not serve. This is an attitude that needs to change, and scrapping the current parking plan would be a start.