The changes began to be implemented over the summer, but until now the campus security front desk has still accepted cash payments
Photo by Sabina Mendoza.
By the end of this month, parking at UVic will be a completely cashless endeavour.
“We’ve been working on the project through the summer,” said Patrick Seward, Associate Director, Commuter & Administrative Services. “As of fall, we are cashless.”
While the parking meters used by the university were replaced with cashless models, the front counter of the campus security office, where other parking-related fees are paid, continued to accept cash until the week of Oct. 19.
The campus community can now pay via tap with credit and debit cards or through the Honk mobile app. At the time of publication, no changes have been made to the parking pass system.
In a statement released on UVic’s website, Campus Security (CSEC) said the change will make parking “quicker, more convenient … and reduce line ups.”
The new meters have received somewhat mixed reception amongst the community.
One third-year psychology student said they usually pay by card already, so have little opinion on the change.
Sam Follis, a third-year student who also works on campus, told the Martlet he was frustrated with the rollout of the new meters. “I came to work expecting to be able to use my coins and I felt like there was no notice about [the] removal of paying with cash.”
“I ended up getting a parking ticket because of that,” he continued.
Not everyone wants to pay for everything via card, Follis said, and for students who work in fields where they make tips, paying by cash is convenient for them.
Seward said UVic took steps to inform students of this change through newsletters, emails to student societies and departments, along with posting new signage, and updating the parking website.
Follis said he wanted to know why the university moved away from accepting cash.
“Most of the parking meters on campus were in need of replacement over the next few years,” said Seward in an emailed statement to the Martlet. “Parking Services decided to replace them with tap-to-pay technology and the HONK app.”
“[The change] modernizes our parking payment technology, streamlines administration, and is in keeping with current parking trends and practices.”
“While it’s too early to have a full picture of the impact of the change, we’ve had less than a dozen requests for assistance, mostly from off-campus visitors who were helped by Campus Security,” the statement continues.
“Users who require support through this transition can email parking services at askparking@uvic.ca or visit the Campus Security front desk.”
