University Police will enforce street parking next to campus beginning Oct. 5

Bright orange courtesy notices are appearing on cars parked illegally on streets bordering Western’s campus.

Beginning Oct. 5, University Police will begin ticketing cars that are parked illegally, especially when the cars create a safety hazard.

Cars parked illegally near or in crosswalks and in No Parking Zones have made it difficult for drivers and pedestrians to see clearly as they cross intersections, leading to some near-crashes. Drivers have also been parking in fire lanes and blocking fire hydrants.

While University Police will enforce parking on streets next to campus beginning Oct. 5, the City of Bellingham will also be increasing its parking enforcement this fall – which could mean expensive parking tickets for those who park their cars in nearby Residential Parking Zones without a city permit.

Parking spaces are at a premium on campus and in very high demand, but permits are still available for Western’s off-campus Lincoln Creek parking lot. All students and employees have access to a bus pass on their Western Card which allows them to ride all the bus routes in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Learn about more car-free transportation options for traveling to Western at Transportation Services.