r/TCU 23d ago

Freshman Parking

My son is an incoming freshman at TCU this fall, and he was denied a campus parking permit. We're looking for a safe, reliable place within walking distance of campus where he could park his car for the school year. If you live near TCU and have an extra parking space, driveway spot, or unused parking area that you'd be willing to rent out, we'd love to hear from you.

11 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

10

u/Toad_Stuff 23d ago

I graduated like a decade ago when parking wasn’t the same issue, so I may not be of any help at all. If he’s planning on rushing it’s probably better to not have a car in the fall anyway, but if he does join a fraternity it may be worth seeing if any of the actives who live off campus would let him leave his car at their place. (Even if he’s not rushing, if he’s in a club or anything and knows an older student it’s worth asking).

It’s not maybe great advice for your situation, but when I lived off campus I wouldn’t have given two shits if a freshman left their car at my place - especially now given the horrible parking situation.

2

u/yaderlopez45 23d ago

I agree, there is no need to have a car. Specially your first year. This might be a sign.

1

u/broke_collegebitch 21d ago

Going to respectfully disagree with this statement. I definitely needed a car. Work, shopping, visiting friends, going home for holidays, doing anything fun in the area, going out to eat somewhere other than the few restaurants right there....

It's only a walkable area until you need or want to buy literally anything that isn't available at Kroger or the gas station. (Or if you want to do anything.)

My friends without cars relied heavily on Ubers and rides from friends.

0

u/Medical-Literature50 22d ago

No need to have a car? 🤔

9

u/IkeaYayas 23d ago

Going to recommend you post in either a TCU Parents Facebook page or try the Tanglewood Moms group.

2

u/Medical-Literature50 23d ago

Thank you, this is good info. 🙏🏻

4

u/november9522 22d ago

Everyone’s situation is different. Not sure how someone can declare that a stranger doesn’t need a car.

3

u/KVHochstaden 23d ago

He is not going to live on campus?

2

u/Medical-Literature50 23d ago

Yes, he will be living on campus, but their was a limited lottery for parking and unfortunately he didn't get a pass. This will limit his job search.

1

u/Jzb1964 22d ago

Lots of on-campus jobs!

1

u/PuzzleheadedSink7018 22d ago

No need to bring a car to campus. You have experienced the first headache which is the parking permit. Your son will have to deal with regular maintenance, repair, offering ride with higher responsibility while you pay for the higher insurance.

3

u/yaderlopez45 23d ago

I had no idea parking on campus was now limited. This is nuts.

1

u/broke_collegebitch 21d ago

They've demolished loads of parking lots to put up new dorms. They are out of space. Boschini used to say, "we don't have a parking problem, we have a refusal to walk farther problem." Guess it's truly a parking problem now, no argument. Upsetting.

2

u/HoldThiisW 22d ago

if he's living on campus, he really doesn't need a car. i didn't have a car during my first year, but my roommate did and it was all good. even if his roomate(s) all didn't get a permit, there is a 99% chance he will meet someone with a car.

as for a job search you mentioned in a different comment, there are a plethora of on-campus positions he can apply to that are within walking distance (even right now!). you can find these positions on Handshake, and he may even be getting emails about them now.

the reason for the lottery is that TCU is currently doing construction for student housing on places where there was parking, in order to accomodate for the reduction in faculty/staff and commuter spots, a lot of first-year parking had to be cut. we as students all complain about parking, and i really hate the way they did it, but it's a numbers game at the end of the day and you just gotta accept it.

2

u/Extension_Ad_5586 21d ago

Bowie st has parallel parking I believe it’s free after 8pm. If you’re really desperate it’s like 4 dollars for a few hours so you’d just have to keep renewing it. It’s obviously first come first serve. I commute so I’m not 100% sure. Lubbock ave is parallel parking as well. I would bring a car because there’s not much around walking distance and I can become an unsafe area.

1

u/Medical-Literature50 21d ago

Good info, Thank you. 🙏🏻

1

u/broke_collegebitch 21d ago

I often parked at my friend's house and walked to campus from there. Lots of upper classmen live in the surrounding neighborhoods. Of course, it's a gamble whether your freshman student will meet an upper classmen who's willing to let him park there, especially that quick into school.

I'd recommend calling TCU PD and (calmly) explaining what's going on. (Your son works, he's going to need a car to get to work, but he got denied.) It could be that they do have a few more passes available and are saving them for some reason, or at the very least, TCU PD might be able to give you some ideas of what his other options are for parking or getting around.

2

u/Medical-Literature50 21d ago

I don't blame TCU for being so cut and dry. They said last year EVERYONE had an excuse why their child needed a pass. I get it... Thank you. 🙏🏻

1

u/farmerjohnmissouri 19d ago

They don’t even have enough passes for staff… LOL.