After my first couple of weeks utilizing UT’s Park and Ride service, I figured I would share my experience – especially for those who may have missed the priority parking-pass deadline, are tight on cash or are nervous about navigating UTK’s campus traffic. Spoiler alert: it’s cheaper, lower-stress and faster than I expected.
Going into my senior year, I am living off campus for the first time. As such, finding a way to get to classes became a little more difficult. Having heard all of the horror stories about commuter parking, I actually deeply considered riding my bike across the river, and while I have nothing against riding bikes, the idea of ringing a bell, using hand turn signals and a helmet became quite comical to me the weekend before classes started. So – I sought out another way of getting from point A, my apartment, to point B, campus.
I didn’t love the idea of spending hundreds of dollars on a parking pass, especially with a December graduation date, which is why when my friends texted reminding me that parking pass sales went live back in July, I didn’t even bother looking. However, recently feeling slightly desperate to avoid the bike scenario, I finally pulled up the UT Parking website. To my surprise there were still passes left – but only Park and Ride…