Student Parking

[minerminer]

What are the options for parking? My son just finished plebe year and told me about a monthly lot (not campus related) he found. I am not totally sold on the idea.

 

[Capt MJ]

What are the options for parking? My son just finished plebe year and told me about a monthly lot (not campus related) he found. I am not totally sold on the idea.

I’ll defer to the USMMA experts on this. His first stop should be general USMMA midshipman regulations to determine if he is entitled to own and operate a car in the area. It’s always good to be clear on what rules apply, what is actually enforced, and execute operational risk management analysis of all choices.

 

[RowingMom]

Did your DS say why he thinks he needs his car and where he would be going? Only 1/c can technically have cars on campus, but there are instances of 3/c and 2/c having them. My DS says really doesn’t think it’s worthwhile until upperclassman with more liberty. The bus service is good in the area, trains at LIRR and you wouldn’t want to drive into NYC. Even as 1/c most of my DS and classmates aren’t planning to have cars this year. I look at it as savings in car insurance, parking fees, gas, etc. as well as a potentially long drive to have car sit around most of the week outdoors without covered place in winter.

 

[minerminer]

I’ll defer to the USMMA experts on this. His first stop should be general USMMA midshipman regulations to determine if he is entitled to own and operate a car in the area. It’s always good to be clear on what rules apply, what is actually enforced, and execute operational risk management analysis of all choices.

Thank you for that advice. I will ask him.

 

[JohnPAKP65]

The Midshipmen Regulations of 2018 are online at Midshipmen Regulations. I would suspect there is a newer edition but your son will know that. The 2018 document states only first class can have vehicles and may be granted the privelege of on campus parking. If your son has just finished plebe year, a major consideration is the upcoming sea experience and one has to ask does he even need a car in the near term?

 

[minerminer]

Did your DS say why he thinks he needs his car and where he would be going? Only 1/c can technically have cars on campus, but there are instances of 3/c and 2/c having them. My DS says really doesn’t think it’s worthwhile until upperclassman with more liberty. The bus service is good in the area, trains at LIRR and you wouldn’t want to drive into NYC. Even as 1/c most of my DS and classmates aren’t planning to have cars this year. I look at it as savings in car insurance, parking fees, gas, etc. as well as a potentially long drive to have car sit around most of the week outdoors without covered place in winter.

It would not be on campus parking. He found/heard of a lot close to campus that rents spots. I agree that the public transportation is fantastic. According to my son, he would use the car for everything but NYC trips. He said there's many places he'd enjoy outside of the city. The commute home would definitely be easier for me, but the every 2 month (long weekends/breaks) trip does not necessitate a car.

The Midshipmen Regulations of 2018 are online at Midshipmen Regulations. I would suspect there is a newer edition but your son will know that. The 2018 document states only first class can have vehicles and may be granted the privelege of on campus parking. If your son has just finished plebe year, a major consideration is the upcoming sea experience and one has to ask does he even need a car in the near term?

Not on campus. It would be off campus and until March 2024 - C split. I will ask him about the regulations as I was not aware.

 

[JohnPAKP65]

Liberty is a factor, we used to have dinner liberty; the ability to leave the Academy for about 3 hours from 4 PM to 7 PM. We could however walk to a nice local pub type place. Unfortunately it isn't there anymore, nor do I know of any places within walking distance. But dinner liberty for 3/c, assuming a split sea year, was once per week. 2/c was allowed twice per week and 1st class, if a cadet officer, every night of the week.

Something for you to review is the MIdshipman's Diary, an informal document describing a typical day. You will see that a great deal of time is spent in regimental life, physical activities to remain "fit" and most importantly studying. The time devoted to academics will increase exponentially as each year goes by. I was an engineer, and found much of plebe year to be relatively easy. But the later years added increasingly intensive course work.

I just returned from a family visit to the area of the Academy. I didn't want a car years ago, and definitely would not want one now. I will tell you the traffic up there is horrendous, and that has been the case on several recent trips. A typical trip from the Philadelphia area used used to be just short of 3 hours. Ever since the end of the pandemic, these journeys have approached 5 hours, and virtually all the increase in time was on Long Island. As an example this past Wednesday, it took 2-1/2 hours to go from the Verrazano bridge to East Meadow New York, a distance of 37 miles. Going anywhere and getting into a possible traffic jam, a late return to campus, and you've got demerits.

 

[cmakin]

I spent the entire 4 years there without a car. If I am not mistaken, there is a parking lot for 1 classmen only (seniors) just outside the gate. Underclassmen must find their own off campus parking. I wore out a lot of leather walking from KP to the train station to get into Manhattan, or other drinking joints in the area. Of course for underclassmen, drinking isn't an option any longer. In my day there was a "community" car for 1 classmen (a rusted out 74 Ford Maverick) that was available to those in the know. It was fondly called The Embarrassing Stain. I found that there were enough of my classmates that lived on Long Island who would drive me where I needed/wanted to go.

 

[minerminer]

Liberty is a factor, we used to have dinner liberty; the ability to leave the Academy for about 3 hours from 4 PM to 7 PM. We could however walk to a nice local pub type place. Unfortunately it isn't there anymore, nor do I know of any places within walking distance. But dinner liberty for 3/c, assuming a split sea year, was once per week. 2/c was allowed twice per week and 1st class, if a cadet officer, every night of the week.

Something for you to review is the MIdshipman's Diary, an informal document describing a typical day. You will see that a great deal of time is spent in regimental life, physical activities to remain "fit" and most importantly studying. The time devoted to academics will increase exponentially as each year goes by. I was an engineer, and found much of plebe year to be relatively easy. But the later years added increasingly intensive course work.

I just returned from a family visit to the area of the Academy. I didn't want a car years ago, and definitely would not want one now. I will tell you the traffic up there is horrendous, and that has been the case on several recent trips. A typical trip from the Philadelphia area used used to be just short of 3 hours. Ever since the end of the pandemic, these journeys have approached 5 hours, and virtually all the increase in time was on Long Island. As an example this past Wednesday, it took 2-1/2 hours to go from the Verrazano bridge to East Meadow New York, a distance of 37 miles. Going anywhere and getting into a possible traffic jam, a late return to campus, and you've got demerits.

Wow. Thank you for the tip. Traffic is incredible.

I spent the entire 4 years there without a car. If I am not mistaken, there is a parking lot for 1 classmen only (seniors) just outside the gate. Underclassmen must find their own off campus parking. I wore out a lot of leather walking from KP to the train station to get into Manhattan, or other drinking joints in the area. Of course for underclassmen, drinking isn't an option any longer. In my day there was a "community" car for 1 classmen (a rusted out 74 Ford Maverick) that was available to those in the know. It was fondly called The Embarrassing Stain. I found that there were enough of my classmates that lived on Long Island who would drive me where I needed/wanted to go.

Yeah, I am a fan of "find a friend."

 

[JohnPAKP65]

I spent the entire 4 years there without a car. If I am not mistaken, there is a parking lot for 1 classmen only (seniors) just outside the gate. Underclassmen must find their own off campus parking. I wore out a lot of leather walking from KP to the train station to get into Manhattan, or other drinking joints in the area. Of course for underclassmen, drinking isn't an option any longer. In my day there was a "community" car for 1 classmen (a rusted out 74 Ford Maverick) that was available to those in the know. It was fondly called The Embarrassing Stain. I found that there were enough of my classmates that lived on Long Island who would drive me where I needed/wanted to go.

Wow, Google maps shows that as 2.6 miles and about 50 minutes. I'm not sure if I ever made that walk! The typical "walk" was to Maurice's, a local pizza place and at a time when the drinking age was 18. I think you could have a couple of slices and a beer or two for $3. Maurice was quite an individual; his daughter had married a KP grad, and he felt the need to take care of us all!

This was long ago in another century, you had to leave the Academy grounds at defined times, be in uniform, and undergo an inspection. The residents of Great Neck were awesome, almost always someone would offer you a ride; they would even change where they were going to accommodate your needs.

 

[Capt MJ]

Another approach would be to get a quote from your car insurers for the car being parked in a lot in the Great Neck/Kings Point zip code and being driven in the area, and in possibly another state. Compare to what is paid now for that car. Unless you live in a comparable metro area, I think that might be eye-opening for your son, especially if he is asked to pay the difference. Cost-benefit could moarison adulting skills.

 

[kpmom2013]

If your mid has a car, he will find himself surrounded by new "friends" who want a ride "just this once." The freeloaders will eventually take so much of your mid's study time that he will end up just giving over the keys. Next thing you know, the borrower gets drunk, crashes the car, and you get sued. I have seen it happen more than once.

 

[KPEngineer]

Can't speak to the current state of affairs in the KP area but there was always a large contingent of 2/C and 3/C who had cars and found off campus parking. It was known that many locals would also rent parking spaces in their driveways.

 

[cmakin]

Wow, Google maps shows that as 2.6 miles and about 50 minutes. I'm not sure if I ever made that walk! The typical "walk" was to Maurice's, a local pizza place and at a time when the drinking age was 18. I think you could have a couple of slices and a beer or two for $3. Maurice was quite an individual; his daughter had married a KP grad, and he felt the need to take care of us all!

This was long ago in another century, you had to leave the Academy grounds at defined times, be in uniform, and undergo an inspection. The residents of Great Neck were awesome, almost always someone would offer you a ride; they would even change where they were going to accommodate your needs.

It could be. I do remember it was quite the hike, but I was a youngster. For us in the late 70s/early 80s, the drinking age was still 18. The local volunteer Firemen's Association had a clubhouse on Steamboat Road, and welcomed us, most of the time. There was another joint up on Hicks Lane and Middle Neck that was, er, very popular. No food, though, but we didn't care. Many times were spent in the Park, too. We had defined times, but I don't always recall being inspected for being in uniform. As an underclassman, though, I do recall leaving in uniform and bringing along a change of clothes in a bag. I remember changing clothes in both the train station at Great Neck or in Penn Station. Either place could be rather dubious. Once I was an upperclassman, I did become pretty handy at going over the wall, and was never caught. But, as usual, I digress. . . .