OU Police working to reduce parking, traffic violations

The Oakland University Police Department is encouraging all in the campus community to review and follow campus parking and traffic regulations in the new academic term.

As they did during the fall term, OUPD officers will enforce these regulations, including issuing citations for handicapped and non-designated parking violations and illegal U-turns. Police officials have noted an increase in non-designated parking violations in the new term.

Construction on campus has presented a unique challenge to the campus community this year, but a comprehensive traffic and parking plan has mitigated the loss of previously available parking spots.

Lighted temporary parking lots have been created on the:

• west side of the Upper Fields adjacent to P-11;
• south of P-41 near the Police and Support Services building, and;
• west of P-37 near the corner of Pioneer Drive and Squirrel Road.

Campus community members should also note that overnight parking is restricted to:

• the P-5 and P-11 (including the temporary Upper Fields expansion) lots, as well as the red-striped spaces only in the P-16 lot;
• the Ann V. Nicholson Student Apartments;
• the Matthews Court lots, and;
• all covered spaces of the P-29 parking structure.

Drivers on campus are also reminded of a new three way stop at the corner of Pioneer and Ravine near the upper fields temporary parking lot.

The university encourages everyone to leave early to get to class or work on time, to carpool when possible, and to avoid circling through high-demand parking lots looking for open spaces.

The 2013-14 campus traffic and parking plan includes new Bear Bus routes designed to maximize the efficiency and convenience of temporary parking lot use. The university also has launched a mobile Bear Bus tracking app to make use of the system even easier for users.

For up-to-date information on parking and enforcement of parking and driving regulations, visit oakland.edu/parking. A 2013-14 campus parking map also is available.

University officials suggest that with heightened awareness, planning and cooperation on the part of all in the campus community, parking and traffic challenges can be efficiently managed.