Parking at the University grounds

Parking for students within the University of Malta grounds has been somewhat problematic for some years now. However, the situation has this year reached epic proportions.

Cars in the largest student car park, the one close to Gateway Building, are being scratched and dented on a daily basis because many students drive and park haphazardly in a panic so as not to miss or arrive late for lectures. Unfortunately, this is not a clear-cut situation where enforcement of proper parking is needed. The problem lies in the fact that there are not enough parking spaces available for the ever-increasing population of students who own a car.

Most of the ring-road allocated for students has been taken up by cranes, heavy machinery, concrete boulders, parking cones or cars belonging to construction workers. Many times, when an outdoor event is held in the area in front of the canteen, a whole students’ car park is closed down to enable easy access to any vehicles that need to transport and mount electronic equipment, stages, tents and the like.

Neighbouring roads in Msida hold no relief because they are always packed too. A few days ago, it took me 50 minutes to find a parking space. After having driven round the University grounds, including the National Pool area, and all the streets round Msida Circus, I finally managed to park my car… in Rue D’Argens! That’s a 20-minute uphill walk to get to my destination. This was not a one-off experience as many are being forced to do likewise and park outside the University grounds. Students are burdened with laptops, books, files, file paper and other equipment needed for their course and are being forced to carry them, rain or shine, over such distances on a daily basis. This all adds up to much wasted time and unnecessary stress.

It is indeed refreshing to know that the University of Malta is hosting over 11,000 students and it is admirable of the government to fund the studies of most of them. However, proper services have to be provided for them too. The authorities cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the daily plight of thousands of frustrated citizens.