Whether you’re behind the wheel or on foot, you may find that the Arcata High parking lot can end up driving you crazy.
It’s no secret that the parking lot can be one of the most chaotic and disorderly places known to humankind. But what are the root causes of this seemingly eternal issue, and are there any favorable solutions?
Many recognize with virtual certitude that the parking lot isn’t the most elegant place, especially during the after-school rush. The observant Jeff Mielke often spectates the frenzy from the sidelines, taking up a position just outside his own classroom. “Panic, confusion, and a little disorder” are the words he used to describe it.
There are many factors that might contribute to the “disorder,” such as students driving against the arrows, people walking in the middle of the parking lot, and some individuals driving directly out of the parking lot entrance.
“It’s one of those things that makes you feel bad for humanity because teenagers are like ‘I only know what I want, I only know what’s right in front of me, and social order be damned,’” Mielke added.
There is a sizable gap between how the parking lot should function and how it does function, and some people are fine with that.
“While driving out the entrance is technically against the rules, it’s not directly endangering anybody,” senior Jack Biondo said.
The predominant issue with the Arcata High parking lot is the amount of (designated) exits; there is just one. The singular gateway to freedom becomes a hectic bottleneck where patience is the name of the game as one car after another departs…and they head right into the chaotic pedestrian-filled intersection where L Street and 16th Street meet.
“Crossing the street there is not a good idea,” Principal Ron Perry said. “I’d rather have students walk around the perimeter of the parking lot, by the pool, up 16th Street, and cross there.” Student safety is a big concern, and both pedestrians and drivers need to be diligent.
Although it has its issues, the parking lot is functional and meets the bare minimum of what one would expect, but there is plenty of room for improvement. What changes could be made in the future to optimize the parking lot?
“There should just be a big roundabout instead of a four-way stop,” Jeff Mielke said. While this revolutionary idea does sound appealing from an efficiency standpoint, it also begs the question: are teenagers skilled enough to use a roundabout? Not to mention the cost and logistics involved with implementing such a thing.
For now, however, the present situation is the best we’ll have for the foreseeable future, and maybe that’s fine.
“We have what we have, and we need to do well with it,” Perry concluded.
