The sun filtered through the trees, lighting the stairs ahead of me. I quickly stepped down the several flights of concrete steps on the edge of campus. I almost forgot how cold it was as I considered all I needed to study once I returned to my apartment. I entered the vast parking lot and instinctively started scanning up and down the packed aisles for a white Eclipse. For me this was a typical ritual. I knew I parked in the last few isles, but my memory was fuzzy on the exact location. 
At that moment I heard a car idling quietly behind me. The sound faded some as I walked further down the isle. I didn't turn around to look, I didn't need to. It was noon. Parking vultures aren't unknown to BYU campus. However, it's a mystery as to why we have them. Despite all the complaining frequently heard among the student body, there is in fact a surplus of parking spots. I might otherwise have some sympathy for them.
In a futile attempt to evade the predator I took a sharp left, cutting through an isle of cars. I heard its engine fire up as it raced down the isle to meet me on the other side. I tried to ignore the car that was slowly inching along behind me as I tried to spot my small white car among all the other small white cars. A second vulture came around the corner and slowly drove past, enviously glaring, seeing I had already been claimed.
With a sigh of relief I finally spotted my car in the next isle. I cut through another isle but proceeded slowly. When the vulture zipped past on the other side I popped out just behind him. He slowed down, jealously eyeing me in the rear view mirror. I discretely unlocked my car doors as I approached, hoping he would think I was cutting through again, he took the bait. I quickly jumped in my car and waited. As far as the vulture was concerned, I had vanished. Just as another passed, I started my car, put it in gear and pulled out, pleased that no-one was rewarded for vulturing my spot.
Out of curiosity, I drove by the Marriott center parking lot. As usual there were still plenty of open spaces. Why don't the vultures just park there? Students argue that the Marriott center is much further away. It's not, I checked:
Even if it was further, I don't understand why you would rather follow people around a parking lot for 20 minutes hoping to score a spot when you could just park a little further and use this thing called "the leg."
How is this rational? Pray tell.
Available spaces from 9 - 12:
- Marriott center parking: At least half
- Indoor practice facility parking: None
Walking distance to library at center of campus:
- Marriott center parking: ~.52 miles
- Indoor practice facility parking: ~.53 miles / with several steep flights of stairs
Time to walk this distance:
- ~13 minutes (for exceptionally slow people)
Time vultures claim to spend looking for a parking spot:
- 20 minutes
4 comments:
hahaha! i enjoyed reading this, since I have experienced being stalked for a parking spot myself at byu... i fear, i was probably also a vulture as well. don't hate me! :) i love that you actually looked up to see how far each parking lot is and how long it would take to walk it... you are a good detective aaro. ;)
oh, and I'm a big fan of using legs to get places... that's always been the dangerfield exercise plan- park far away from the entrance to the restaurant or mall, so that you can get your walk in before shopping or eating - haha. :)
Good study Aaron. I enjoyed the first hand experience and support maps. It provides a good study of hunan behavior and our tendency to follow the road most traveled.
love it!
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