A new school year brings an influx of new and old drivers alike to Aliso Niguel High School’s parking lot. With everyone back for the new school year, the school’s parking lot fills fast.
Every morning, students and parents line up on Wolverine Way. Some students use the car line, but it seems the bulk of this year’s traffic is focused in and around the school’s parking lot.
Entering or exiting the lot from either entrance will always present another car going the opposite direction. But this traffic situation is not isolated to just this school year, rather it seems to be the same case, no matter the time of year.
Carson Kennedy is a senior this year, he has been driving since his sophomore year and using the parking lot for the same amount of time. For some students, the car line’s congestion has become second nature, Carson said, “ umm… I don’t notice it” and agreed that there is plenty of parking within the lot.
It seems that despite the unfortunate situation for traffic up and down the hill, most of it is avoidable if someone leaves early enough. Students come to expect and plan around the before school traffic, opting to leave for school earlier in order to beat the rush, or risk getting stuck in the line.
Not only does the car line reach far past the school’s boundaries, but may stay present past the bell. It is not unheard of for students stuck in traffic to be 10-15 minutes late to class. This past week brought rain, as well as traffic, as many students opted out of walking or biking. In doing this, the car line only grew, causing many students to be late.
After waiting through the car line, students enter the parking lot. The next obstacle for many is to find parking. This year, all who wanted a parking pass received one. Mrs Young in ASB said, “there is about 50 left…as far as I know everyone who wanted one, got one”. Still holding passes, the school’s lot is not filled to capacity. Although, most prime front row parking spaces are taken by zero period drivers.
Despite the ample amount of passes, after the bell rings for the last class of the day, hundreds of students file into the parking lot. While the school day is over, those who parked in the lot can expect to stay at school, in their car, for 10-30 minutes depending on the exit chosen.
Within the lot, proctors walk around and use golf carts in order to control traffic within the school’s lot. Lory Flask, a school proctor, agreed that this year’s traffic is similar to past years.
When questioned about the student’s driving ability this year, she said, “probably worse, because of e-bikes”. Aliso’s drivers seem to not be the only ones causing traffic problems, the high influx of e-bikers this year have been clogging up the hill in the morning and the afternoon rushes.
This new school year has brought thousands of students back to school, either walking, biking, or driving. It is important to make sure everyone is conscious of one another on the roads in order to minimize traffic congestion and injury.
