Now that classes have transitioned back to in-person, returning Golden Eagle students know how parking on campus can get a little tricky. Here are some important tips and helpful stories to make the parking experience a whole lot easier.
Zyan Lindo, a psychology major, shares her story of her first time parking on campus.
“I had parked down on the second level because someone had said we could park there for the day because there was no parking, and then I came back with a $60 ticket and I contested it,” she said. “Luckily, I didn’t end up paying for that one.”
However, Lindo noted an honest parking mistake she learned during her second experience.
“There was another time where for some reason you get a ticket if you’re parked backwards instead of the correct direction,” she said.
Cal State LA’s website reports, “vehicles must park head-in in Parking Structure C and Lot 10.”
Candace Wheeler, a communications major, had a similar parking experience during her second week on campus when parking on the wrong level.
“I was ticketed even though I had paid at the meter that was up at the top of the third floor parking lot, and I went to contest the ticket but I didn’t end up having to pay it,” she said.
Although this was a lucky situation, students should know that not every parking lot is for student parking. In fact, some areas are strictly meant for faculty and staff. To avoid parking in the wrong places, please refer to the campus parking map found on the parking and transportation page.
Devanshi Purohit, a graduate student studying studio arts, said that when she is not traveling by bus, she sometimes comes with her friend to park together. She says it is not too confusing with the help of instructions from the PaybyPhone app, which tell you where you can park and pay.
“I came here with my friend and he already knew what to do, so he guided me so I actually don’t know how it would be if I was alone,” she said. “I guess if I went alone for the first time, it’s difficult for everyone.”
First-year student housing residents face even stricter parking limitations.
According to the parking and transportation page, “first-time freshmen are not eligible for parking permits as they are not permitted to bring a vehicle to campus.”
For further information on the housing policies, please visit the housing resident parking page.
For students who are disabled, “disabled parking requires a current Cal State LA parking permit and a valid DMV disabled placard at all times,” according to the parking and transportation page.
Spring permits are available for purchase through its website or on the MyCalStateLA portal. Students can also use the PayByPhone app for contactless daily parking. Daily parking permits can additionally be purchased at dispensing machines located in every student parking lot.
Spring semester permits are usually priced at $220, but due to the first three weeks of the semester being online, students can purchase the permit at a porated price of $178. The 30-day permit is the same price as before, $55, as is the daily permit, $8.
