Even if the school parking lot is never technically full, parking is still a disaster for students in a rush. In this week’s Hallways Hassle, three of the six people interviewed listed parking as their least favorite aspect of Pierce College.

If there are no plans to expand the parking lots, it falls upon the students to find creative solutions that will prevent them from being late to class. One easy fix is carpooling, which almost guarantees a front row spot. Getting a carpool pass is simple and free. The parties involved simply need to sign up for a pass with their current vehicle’s information and be sure to display their passes on the car they take to school.

The prospect of finding someone with the same schedule as you can seem daunting, but with an open mind and a little small talk, carpooling is a great way to turn classmates or acquaintances into friends while saving gas and the long walk from overflow parking.

If one does have to resort to parking in overflow, it’s not all bad. An opportunity for exercise and fresh air is bound to be more fun than idling behind the taillights of someone with a prime spot or making yourself more late by driving up and down each lane obsessively in hopes of finding a new space.

The best way to cope is by adjusting your schedule. The danger time seems to be around 9:30 a.m., so if you have a 10 a.m. class skip breakfast at home and come early to miss the influx that fills up the lot quickly. If your class ends at noon, stick around and study for a while to avoid being stuck in your spot as the majority of people speed home.