Most Hopkins students complain that there's little to do around campus if you don't have a car. Baltimore is not a pedestrian friendly city, so students enviously eye friends with wheels, regardless of what they drive. Back in Tampa, my 1980 Honda Civic would be the subject of many a joke; yet here, it's a prize worth admiring.
Those students who are lucky enough to have a vehicle have a different complaint: where to park?
The main office first directed us to Security, which was actually the most helpful (and most friendly) source of information we found. In addition to a few leads, they directed us to the Parking Office (516-PARK).
Now, one might presume that the Parking Office would be in place to assist students with parking. But one would be incorrect. I am still unclear on what the Parking Office does do, but they made it quite clear that they, most emphatically, do not assist students with parking, unless they are commuter students. (Commuter students out there, be warned, parking for you is also limited.)
The Housing Office in Wolman (516-7962) said they "don't even have enough parking for our faculty, we can't help you."
So, for those students concerned with where to park, the most basic answer is simply this: wherever you can. Street parking, though sometimes tedious, is a tried and true method. With enough determination, a spot can usually be found, and the price could not be better.
It is difficult especially around Homewood campus. Most parking in the Hopkins area is two hour parking. South of 29th Street, however, this restriction is lifted. So for those of you willing to park in a less than ideal neighborhood and make a decent trek back, it is an option.
Be aware, even the areas where there are not specific time limits on a daily basis almost always have a weekly period of time earmarked for street cleaning. If your car is there during these periods it will be towed.
However, some students would feel less than secure parking expensive cars on the street - not an issue for me and my Civic. Even without the intervention of foul play, Baltimore winters can wreak havoc upon paint jobs.
So what other options are there? Not many. There are some garages in the area, notably the Collonade and at the Rotunda, but both of these facilities do have waitlists.
The Collonade, across the street from the AMRs on University is safe and close, but expensive at $154/month.
Future Care, a retirement home on Charles, is $60/month for a parking spot, but spaces are limited.
A good source of spots is actually the Sunday paper. Many private individuals in the area who have spare space in their garages will often sell it on a weekly basis. Though prices vary, $10-$15/week is a somewhat standard amount.
For residents of Homewood and Bradford, there's one other option. Permits can be obtained to park in some designated two hour parking. This basically opens up all the spots from 29th Street to University for unlimited duration parking. Details for this can be obtained through the Housing Office (be warned that you'll need to make a trip to the delightful Maryland DMV).
If you need to park close to campus for a few hours try the Baltimore Museum of Art lot, but be careful of the security guards.
I have a secret parking trick. Sometime after noon on Monday, I park between 28th and 29th Street on the western side of the road. Over the weekend, I move the car to Charles St. north of University, which has no parking only between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. Then, sometime between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., I move the car back to just south of 29th Street.
Though it is a bit of a pain, more time consuming than difficult. For students who do not mind parking on the street, it is a completely viable option.
One final note: the school itself did, at one point, run a parking facility for students, the Homewood Garage. The garage was torn down this semester to build Charles Commons. Naturally, there are no plans to build another similar garage.
