The Old Townie: Prepping for parking as students return
Columnist Steve Schnabl has experience both making J-Turns and losing out on parking spots because of them. As students to return to campus, Schnabl is preparing for Oxford's parking situation to get noticeably fuller once more.
I got ticked off last week when I lost a parking spot Uptown that I needed for just long enough to run inside to pick up a food order. I was headed eastbound on High Street. I got stopped by the red light at Main, but I could see an open angled parking spot about half-way to the alley. As I started through the light (legally), a dark SUV coming westbound made a left turn into the empty spot.
The only empty spot.
I passed slowly, hoping the driver would get out; I noted that the license plate was from out-of-state (not Indiana). A “J-turn” from the opposite direction into one of the angled parking spaces on High Street is grounds for a citation from Oxford Police — and a possible tongue-lashing from me.
Soon, we’ll face the annual swarm of student residents returning for another year of matriculation, many accompanied by their vehicles. This takes us from the relatively bucolic summer months to two semesters’ worth of more greatly strained parking.
“Back in the day,” the university had strict limits on students having cars in Oxford. I remember parking on south campus, feeding the meter and not worrying about a ticket for not having a Miami parking permit on my car. Fox and Hounds and the other student apartment complexes had limited parking. On-campus parking was allotted more to faculty and staff.
Since those days, the city has built the lot where Farmers Market is staged weekly, plus the parking garage (now undergoing renovations). The university enlarged Millett parking on both sides, created the massive Rt 73 east lot across from the equestrian center, added new and enlarged lots on the Western campus, built the parking garage by the Rec Center, and off N. Patterson, and eventually replaced the old Talawanda High School with Chestnut Fields parking.
Lest I forget, we also now have a limited public transportation system, motorized bicycles, electric vehicle charging stations, dedicated bike lanes and rental scooters.
Is there enough parking now? NO.
For nine years before I became an Oxford resident, I drove into town several times a week from Middletown or Hamilton to offer step-kid transportation. Once, I too committed the J-turn crime. Quick like a bunny, I hopped across the yellow line in my Gremlin to grab a spot in the same High Street block as my recent experience. I exited the Gremlin and was confronted by an older, gruff gentleman. “John Law will git you fur that!” he growled while he glared.
I learned that lesson right then. But now I want to be a current version of that old gruff guy.
Watch out!
Steve Schnabl moved to Oxford in 1985. He retired in 2023 from Oxford Seniors after a 40-year career directing nonprofits.
