Before searching for apartments for next year, most students will probably not consider the advantages of living off campus and commuting.

A major deterrent to commuting is that downtown Madison, especially the University of Wisconsin campus, is notorious for not having enough available parking. Students who commute, however, will attest to the fact that the advantages of not living on campus outweigh the challenges.

After living on campus her first three years at UW, senior Amanda Kress chose to live in Fitchburg and spends 15 minutes commuting to campus every day. Kress chose to move off campus simply because it costs less than living in the campus area.

“The apartments off campus are just so much nicer for the same amount of money. Actually, they’re less money and they’re quieter,” Kress said. “My car is safer where it’s parked. I’m paying less in the parking ramp than for a campus parking spot even with paying every day.”

Kress says she never has a problem finding a spot in the parking ramps around campus, and since they’re closer to class than where she lived on campus, she actually has to walk less.

Another commuter from Fitchburg, UW senior Kim Nolet, said she wanted to live away from the crowded campus atmosphere.

“I’m very happy with commuting. It doesn’t bother me that I’m not as much in the campus environment,” Nolet said. “I think it’s more productive for me to live off campus and be able to put more time into studying instead of the social life aspect.”

Nolet chose to live off campus because she is married and works full-time. She feels a car makes her less confined to the campus area.

Unfortunately, Nolet must face the reality that driving around campus to find a parking spot takes a lot of time.

“Time is a factor because it takes so much time to get around the campus area,” Nolet said. “There’s not enough availability of parking near buildings for more than three hours. Therefore, when I’m in lab, it’s very hard to find time on the meters.”

Last year, UW raised its meter fares from 75 cents per hour to $1 in accordance with a city mandate.

The increase puts more buses into the Metro Transit System and the Park and Ride Shuttle system.

UW also decreased the number of available permits for its parking lots.

The parking changes, which went into effect this fall, are in response to campus-wide construction that will cut about 1,000 spaces. Since only 300 students who commute to UW can qualify for a permit, these changes have mostly affected faculty and staff.

Despite the frustration over the lack of parking, Nolet says that by living off campus she is able to experience Madison beyond the UW campus.

“It allows me to be part of the greater Madison community rather than limiting myself to just the campus community,” she said. “I learned that there’s a lot more to offer than what the campus has — there’s a whole city.”