IUSA eyes buses, parking

Getting around Bloomington is a pain, and all four IUSA tickets think they have the answer.\nWith election day only a week away, each party is solidifying its platforms regarding parking and transportation. Candidates are scrambling to inform students on the issues before they cast their votes for the 2004-2005 student government.\nThe Fusion ticket promises to work to lower ticket fines and create more 24-hours spots. Fusion presidential candidate, junior Dan Shapiro, said IU needs immediate solutions.\n"The parking situation, simply put, is there are too many cars and not enough spots," he said. "We need to have universal parking on the weekends, and we will."\nShapiro said the current parking system discourages students from using the library, and redrawing the ticketing hours on-campus will help alleviate the problem.\nAdditionally, Fusion would lobby for lower ticket fines and fewer ticketing hours, Shapiro said. The group feels tickets should only be issued between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or even less.\n"Thirty dollars is too much to pay for a parking ticket, and the $60 is outrageous," he said. "(We would) use parking revenue for development instead of more efficient enforcement."\nShapiro said his party will study students' class schedules through the bursar and outside input to increase bus route efficiency.\nCrimson Party incumbents plan to lower parking fines for first-time offenders, and punish repeat-offenders more harshly, junior Vice President-Administration Candidate Jesse Laffen said.\nThe ticket will also work within the current bus budget to establish more efficient routes, Laffen said.\nCrimson promises to institute "$1 Cabs," a collaboration with local taxi companies which would allow students with valid IDs to catch a cab for only one dollar. Junior Scott Norman, Crimson vice president-congress candidate, said the measure would contribute to a safer college atmosphere. \n"This is, by far, one of the best college towns in the nation, and I know it's in our interest to make sure that people have a responsible, safe means of transportation," he said.\nBig Red candidates plan to help administrators realize plans for parking garages near Teter Quadrangle and the Main Library. More parking would take the stress off the city and university transit systems, said senior Presidential Candidate Katie Diggins.\n"I definitely see a problem with parking -- no student on campus is happy about it," she said. "We've got $3 million from parking tickets alone last year. That also indicates there's obviously a problem."\nWhile Big Red does not discount the goal of lower parking fines, it believes ample parking would slash ticketing rates, Diggins said. \n"You can try to go up against the fine system, or you can go beyond that and look at why people are getting parking tickets," she said. \nJunior and Hoosier Party Presidential Candidate Aaron Radez cited the discrepancy between IU Police Department tickets and Bloomington Police Department tickets as a chief concern. \n"I think that they're really trying to stiff students with a $60 parking ticket," he said. "Hoosier Party will not let that stand. You can't tell me that the market value of illegal parking goes from $12 on one side of the street to $60 on the other side of the street."\nRadez said the group will try to lower parking fines across the board.\nHoosier Party will also work to better utilize the student transportation fee and provide free campus buses, as well, Radez said.\n"We need to look into the appropriate channels to make sure the student fee includes the campus bus, as well," he said. "We will minimize or prevent any increase to the student fee."\nRadez said while the "Drunk Bus" venture is off to a good start, its routes need to be more comprehensive, and students need to be protected from the police when making responsible decisions.\n"What is the point of having a drunk bus if you're trying to get home safely, and you can't even do that because you still have the threat of being picked up for public intox?" he said. \nJim Hosler, director of campus bus services, said he supports a compromise with students.\nDoug Porter said IU may build parking garages within the next few years, and he also would be willing to consider more attractive parking reforms from students, however, none of the parties have contacted him for information or advice, he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Mike McElroy at mmcelroy@indiana.edu.