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Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

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Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#41
There's an entire industry of selling snake-oil Batman shit like this to law enforcement/mall cops. It's a delightful fusion of ill will, they operate with minimal oversight and get to take advantage of government (procurement), law enforcement (mostly ignorant of tech), and the good 'ol citizenry (cast as cattle as usual).

I love how, when one of these places recruits you, it takes forever to learn what they're about, because their website is nothing but euphemisms.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#43
post #6

"a user who found out his campus only had 12 wheel boots to go around and bought and illegally parked 12 scrapyard cars that could be “sacrificed” so everyone else could park however they wanted." Not all heroes wear capes.

Why is everyone in this thread celebrating people who park selfishly?! Taking up spaces with abandoned cars is a particularly miserable thing to do that makes the original underlying problem worse!

They wouldn't have to resort to any shenanigans if parking on campus was free for students.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#44

> Obviously, some students thought that fee was ridiculous – just like paying for parking at a university where you’re already paying a hefty tuition fee I hate parking fees as much as the next person, and totally appreciate the creativity of the people who defeated this device. However, how should we handle distributing a limited number of parking spaces when there are more people who want to park than available spa…

Maybe instead of hiring more administrators or building a luxury dorm, the university could build a parking garage.

It's not like the number of students who need to park is unknown.

If you know there's 1000 students who need to park and only 500 parking spots for them, randomly charging half of them exorbitant fines does not seem like a good solution.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is everyone in this thread celebrating people who park selfishly?! Taking up spaces with abandoned cars is a particularly miserable thing to do that makes the original underlying problem worse!

They wouldn't have to resort to any shenanigans if parking on campus was free for students.

Why are these people driving to college in the first place? Take public transport.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#46

> Obviously, some students thought that fee was ridiculous – just like paying for parking at a university where you’re already paying a hefty tuition fee I hate parking fees as much as the next person, and totally appreciate the creativity of the people who defeated this device. However, how should we handle distributing a limited number of parking spaces when there are more people who want to park than available spa…

Isn’t “first come first serve” fair?

It doesn’t seem fair to me, it seems like it favors people who have early classes or live on early schedules.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#47

> Obviously, some students thought that fee was ridiculous – just like paying for parking at a university where you’re already paying a hefty tuition fee I hate parking fees as much as the next person, and totally appreciate the creativity of the people who defeated this device. However, how should we handle distributing a limited number of parking spaces when there are more people who want to park than available spa…

Isn’t “first come first serve” fair?

Imagine a doctor working at two hospitals who has to move his car from one location to the other mid-day between surgeries. Is it more fair for him to have a worse parking spot and take longer to get to the operating room because he didn't park there earlier? Or should spots be given based on need?

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#48

> Obviously, some students thought that fee was ridiculous – just like paying for parking at a university where you’re already paying a hefty tuition fee I hate parking fees as much as the next person, and totally appreciate the creativity of the people who defeated this device. However, how should we handle distributing a limited number of parking spaces when there are more people who want to park than available spa…

Increase supply. Most schools use flat parking lots instead of multistory car parks which would be far more efficient.

Alternatively, run public transportation that doesn't suck.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#49

> Obviously, some students thought that fee was ridiculous – just like paying for parking at a university where you’re already paying a hefty tuition fee I hate parking fees as much as the next person, and totally appreciate the creativity of the people who defeated this device. However, how should we handle distributing a limited number of parking spaces when there are more people who want to park than available spa…

Mass transportation options coupled with high density buildings should be the way to go. Parking just doesn’t scale.

The uni I went to had a decent bus system that had routes along the major apt complexes (private and uni owner). Buses were usually on time, and likely faster than trying to find a parking spot.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#50

> Obviously, some students thought that fee was ridiculous – just like paying for parking at a university where you’re already paying a hefty tuition fee I hate parking fees as much as the next person, and totally appreciate the creativity of the people who defeated this device. However, how should we handle distributing a limited number of parking spaces when there are more people who want to park than available spa…

I think it's about the demographics. College students are cash-poor but time-rich, so they are more than willing to come in early and circle around to find a spot if it means they don't have to pay. College students are generally more liberal, so the capitalistic way of selling resource to the highest bidder naturally attracts resentment.

If the community collectively believe paying-with-time is the best way to allocate resources, charging parking fee is nothing more than money-grabbing.

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