Ditch The Car: A Parent's Guide to Transportation in IV

It may seem like a no-brainer to send your student to school with a car. But in reality, the presence of cars in Isla Vista is a lot more complicated and expensive than you might expect. Keep reading to learn more about:

  • Why you should consider NOT adding another car to Isla Vista this school year
  • How to get around Isla Vista without a car
  • What resources to use if your student must bring a car, including how to avoid parking tickets.

 

Convenience & Safety

On-street parking spaces in Isla Vista are at over 100% capacity. There are three key issues we see when there are more cars than parking spots: safety, convenience, and cost.

Safety: When parking is limited, students end up parking their cars on red curbs and blocking sidewalks, which increases danger for both pedestrians and bikers. This illegal parking also inhibits our emergency responders from quickly reaching community members in need, since blocked access points make it difficult to get emergency gear in and out of homes. These parking violations also create poor visibility at busy intersections, making our streets more prone to traffic collisions and serious injuries for pedestrians.

Convenience: During the school year, parking in Isla Vista closely resembles a game of musical chairs. If you haven't had the experience of spending an hour circling the same four blocks with 20 other cars looking for a spot, we don't recommend it.

Cost: Cars are expensive! Between gas, maintenance, and the risk of damage and parking tickets, owning a car is a significant monthly expense for college students and their parents alike. Isla Vista is already an expensive place to live, from rent to groceries to tuition, so it's worth saving costs where you can. Alternative transportation is usually the most cost-effective option.

Avoiding Tickets: With consistent parking enforcement in Isla Vista this school year, there's one more reason to consider leaving the car at home: no car means no risk of tickets. All California on-street parking laws will be enforced in Isla Vista, including the 72-hour rule, which prohibits a car from remaining in the same street parking spot for more than 72 hours. If your student does bring a car, make sure they're familiar with these rules so they can avoid tickets. For a complete list of California parking laws, click here and scroll down to "Parking Law Refreshers."

 

Great Local Transportation + Facilities

Local Facilities: We're incredibly fortunate to live in a community that is easily walkable and bikeable. Between on-campus resources, restaurants, and shops, Isla Vista has all of the student essentials within a square mile. Students don't have to travel all the way to Costco or Trader Joe's for affordable groceries; we have them right here in Isla Vista. The Isla Vista Food Cooperative is our local grocery store, with plenty of fresh, local produce. Additionally, UCSB's Food Bank provides free grocery staples to all UCSB students.

Local Travel: For trips to nearby areas like Trader Joe's in Goleta or Downtown Santa Barbara, students can ride the Santa Barbara MTD's bus for free, and can also use The Wave, SB MTD's microtransit service. Similar to other rideshare services like Uber or Lyft, The Wave is an on-demand service that provides trips between any two points in a specified zone for a low flat rate. For example, using The Wave, your student can order a trip from Isla Vista or UCSB to Trader Joe's for just $3! And if your student has a valid license, they can explore third-party car rental apps, such as Zipcar or Turo, for errands, day trips, or weekend excursions. To learn more about public transportation in Isla Vista and Santa Barbara, check out our Parking and Transportation Webpage.

With reliable public transportation and all the student necessities just a short walk or bike ride away, cars in Isla Vista often sit unused for most of the school year. Considering the financial costs of gas, car maintenance, potential parking tickets, and the risk of damage, your wallet will thank you for leaving the car at home.

 

 

How Will My Student Travel Between Home & School?

When it comes to traveling longer distances, like Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, San Diego, or the Bay Area, there are a variety of affordable options:

Amtrak + The MTD Wave: Santa Barbara is served by two Amtrak train routes. The Pacific Surfliner winds along the Southern California coast between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, while the interstate Coast Starlight travels from Seattle to Los Angeles. One-way fares from Goleta station start at $31 to Los Angeles Union Station, $55 to San Diego, and $54 to San Francisco. When it comes to traveling from Isla Vista to the nearest train station, The Wave offers on-demand pickup and drop-off between Isla Vista and the Goleta Amtrak station.

Santa Barbara Airport + The MTD Wave: For students opting to fly home, the Santa Barbara Airport is a highly convenient option. The Wave offers on-demand pickup and drop-off from Isla Vista or UCSB campus to the Santa Barbara Airport for just $3.

LAX + The Santa Barbara AirBus: While Santa Barbara Airport can be more expensive than LAX, the SB AirBus provides direct transportation from the Goleta pickup station to LAX, giving students flexibility in their flight options.

Carpooling With Friends: Chances are, your student has old friends from high school who also attend UCSB, and they'll most likely make new friends from the same area. If your student only needs a car to drive home a few times a year, carpooling with friends might be a more cost-effective option than car ownership, or consider using one of the transportation options listed above.

 

 

What if My Student Really Needs Their Car?

We get it, sometimes a car is necessary. Maybe your student has a job outside of Isla Vista that's difficult to reach using local transportation, or they work late hours. We are actively discouraging car ownership in Isla Vista to make street parking spaces available for those students who really do need their cars.

Too often, we hear stories of students circling the streets of Isla Vista for upwards of 30 minutes looking for parking after a late-night work shift, then having to walk 15-20 minutes from where they parked to their home. We are encouraging students to only bring their cars if absolutely necessary, so those who do need their cars can find parking easily.

If your student does need their car and off-street parking is not available at their home in Isla Vista, consider purchasing an off-street parking space using our off-street parking marketplace. We've gathered a list of leasing companies who are willing to sell their unused parking spaces to Isla Vista residents, even if they are not a resident of that specific property where the parking space is located. (Note: IVCSD does not profit from these listings; we've simply compiled this list as a free resource to help you find available off-street parking.)

Finally, if your student must bring a car and they will be parking it on the street, please make sure your student is aware of state parking regulations, including the 72-hour parking rule, so they can avoid parking tickets.

 

 

The Sustainable, Stress-Free Choice

Isla Vista is a community with a long history of sustainability efforts, and that legacy continues with your student's everyday choices. By opting to walk, bike, or use public transit, your student reduces carbon emissions, saves hundreds of dollars, and supports a community committed to sustainability.

So, will you consider transportation alternatives for your student?

For more information:

 

Sincerely,
Fiona Salsich
Community Engagement Project Manager
UCSB Alumni & Ex-Isla Vista Driver