When students receive applications for parking permits during the summer, they are reminded of the various other transportation options that exist in State College.

However, many students feel the need to have their cars with them, whether it is to travel home, to work, or just for a weekend road trip.

Student parking is clustered on the east side of campus, near East Halls and The Bryce Jordan Center.

On-campus students with a permit can park in Lot 80; on Park Avenue between Bigler and Shortlidge roads, Lot 83N, on the opposite side of Park Avenue, commonly referred to as the Flower Gardens; and Lot 83, which is directly in front of East Halls.

Off-campus students with the appropriate permit can park in Lot 44, which is between Beaver Stadium and the Jordan Center.

Several lots around campus are off-limits to students during the day, but are open to students with permits after 4 p.m. On weekends, some on-campus dwellers move their cars to open parking areas for easy accessibility from dorms.

Signs at the entrance to the lots specify the hours during which students are permitted to park there. There are some lots in which students are not allowed to park at all.

Penn State's parking office is located in the Eisenhower Parking Deck on Shortlidge Road. This is the place to go with questions about parking and to pay parking tickets.

Parking in downtown State College is a frequent issue among residents and borough officials.

The cost of parking in a metered public spot was recently increased from 60 to 75 cents.

The borough also operates several parking garages downtown.

Some apartment leases include a parking space, while others charge an extra fee for the use of a space. Apartments that are further from campus and the downtown area usually offer tenants more parking options.