NE Campus has checked reassigning parking spaces off of its to-do list this semester.

Campus officials decided to eliminate the parking spaces for motorcyclists and the handicapped next to the NBSS building because of safety concerns.

Last fall, concerns were magnified when a grandmother of a TCC student drove onto the campus, mistakenly using the pathway as a road. When she made it to the library staircase, she had thought it was a ramp and attempted to drive her vehicle down the stairway. The vehicle ended up stuck on the stairs. No one was hurt.

“The incident had caused us to rethink the parking spaces,” said Gary Smith, vice president of academic affairs. “The area is really congested, and we’ve noticed as administrators there’s a potential for accidents.”

NE Campus president Larry Darlage said campus officials had other parking spaces in mind to replace the ones being eliminated. They will re-designate hashed areas as motorcycle spaces throughout the campus parking lots.

“I have had a concern about this parking area for many years,” he said in an email to faculty.

Darlage said workers will reseal the parking lot, restripe it and designate additional handicapped spaces over spring break.

“We’re planning on expanding the sidewalk on the north side to make it totally handicap-accessible,” he said.

A number of students who drive motorcycles park in that area, but TCC student and motorcycle commuter Jared Barowitz doesn’t think it will be a problem as long as the weather stays cool.

“I was never in a situation where anyone was in danger,” he said. “As a motorcycle driver, you have to be hyperaware of any accident and what could potentially kill you.”

— Elyssa Whaley