With many students living off campus, the winter’s parking ban affects more than just the residents of Oswego State’s campus.

Many off-campus students live in houses with small driveways, only fitting one or two cars, or no driveway at all, leaving them to park on the street. But with the winter parking ban, this is no longer an option.

For the past two years, Mayor Tom Gillen had implemented an alternate side parking ban between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., allowing people to still park on the street near their house. However, with this regulation, it made it difficult for plows to get through and clean the roads during snow storms.

Because of this, Oswego city mayor Billy Barlow decided to bring back the previous parking ban—no cars parked anywhere on the streets of Oswego between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. Although this parking ban makes it easier for plows, it makes it extremely inconvenient for those without sufficient parking spaces.

For senior Julia D’Rozario, this means walking three blocks every day to get her car.

“When I found out about it over break, I didn’t really think it would be passed because it seemed unrealistic for college students, which makes up a lot of the town,” D’Rozario said.

Although inconvenience is an issue, D’Rozario said safety is her biggest concern.

“When the ban stuck I knew I had to think of a way to stay safe walking to and from my car,” D’Rozario said.

Due to her night classes, D’Rozario is often left walking late at night from the designated lot closest to her house.

“I usually ask one of my roommates to walk with me because I don’t want anything to happen and I want to stay safe. But I feel bad wasting their time,” D’Rozario said.

Victoria Laruccia, a senior, is in a similar situation as D’Rozario, with the closest parking lot about three blocks away. She said safety is also a concern for her.

“When I have to go to my car when it’s dark and there’s nobody out, I do not feel safe,” Laruccia said.

Lt. David Lizotte of the Oswego City police department said students should take precautions while walking home.

“Try not to walk by yourself, and if you have to, let your roommates know so they know to expect you, or talk to someone on the phone as you walk,” Lizotte said.

Lizotte also suggested ways to keep from being hit by a car.

“Right now since there’s not much snow, try to stay on the sidewalk; that’s the best option,” Lizotte said. “But if the sidewalks are covered in snow, try to walk in lighted areas, wear some sort of colored jacket, maybe even carry a flashlight. Really anything to make you more visible.”

Along with personal safety, D’Rozario and Laruccia fear there is a higher risk of their cars getting broken into since they would not hear their car alarms.

Laruccia said she feels the ban may be a way for the city to make money through parking tickets.

“When they’re giving tickets at 3 o’clock in the morning on a clear night with no plows, it is clearly not in the interest of the safety of the Oswego residents,” Laruccia said.

With little snow this winter, Laruccia hopes the ban will be appealed earlier than its tentative date of March 1.