Could not believe it took over an hour to get out of the parking lot last night, were there not enough flag people letting people out? There has to be a better way get the traffic flowing better then that.
Parking lot issues!
- Thread starter cyfreddy
- Start date
I got out of B4 and out to highway 30 in about 15 minutes. Back in WDM in a half hour.
In D2 this year after being in G7 for 8 years. I can’t believe how much faster it is to get out of the paved lots. I don’t think I’ve waited more than 10 or 15 minutes. Been super happy after games this year. Getting in on the other hand is absolutely miserable if you’re not early.
I was in C5 and it took over an hour to get out of the lot.
We were also in A3, but I decided to go north towards Hilton to get out, and that was a big mistake.
Son watched the end of the game while plane was taxiing on a flight from Charlotte to DC. Message that he had landed and was home in NW DC and we were only in Ankeny or half way home.
Only gonna get worse when they tear up the parking lot and make room for the pollard and light district.
It was really bad. The late night and outcome of the game had everything to do with everyone leaving at the same time.
Sat in tent drowning our sorrows and watched traffic going nowhere out of paved lots for an hour.
That probably contributed, but its been getting worse over time in the S-lots at least even in games where things arent as close. Ever since they switched who was managing them a couple years ago. They have fewer people directing that traffic. Like, heading out through the S16th exit, there used to be someone directing traffic where the traffic from S1-4 meets traffic coming south from S5-8. There's no one there now, so very few cars get out from S5-8 until S1-4 clear.
IMO they give people too many choices. Need to make things more controlled for egress, even if it means a bit longer to drive for some. Like the grass lots should all be shunted to duff.
I'd argue its gotten worse getting into ames as well. Traffic backups are much longer nowadays, between the poor management at the S16th entrance (only 1 or two cars can get through on a green left arrow and thats if someone coming south hasn't already blocked the lane, so S-lot traffic backs up to Hwy 30), and the delays introduced from having to scan every parking pass and mark windows.
Last edited:
A well-defined postgame traffic flow pattern that includes blocking off portions of streets (and no inbound traffic) would be helpful. Unfortunately, you'll always get the people who just have to turn the opposite direction from where they're being directed.
Even Kansas has a published traffic pattern that includes one-way flow on most of the surrounding streets.
Even Kansas has a published traffic pattern that includes one-way flow on most of the surrounding streets.
I'm not even sure why they're marking windows. For the first game (SEMO) there was an attendant at my lot who actually read the marking and directed us in, but since then nobody has even been there.
Should be 1 way flow for 1-2 hours after game and no choice on turns until > 6-10 blocks from stadium.
Yeah, i've never had one check mine.
But the spot is also along grass and near the road, so I tend to swing around and pull through, so i can get out easier afterwards, so I'm not needing to get around the barricades. The markings seem like theyre just there so someone can be towed if they're in the wrong spot.
Parked on campus for the first time in a while (it was free, which was nice). Obviously no tailgating, but I had a full day of other stuff and only got to Ames about 90 minutes before kickoff. After the game, it took a little over 20 minutes to walk from my seat in JTS to my car on the west end of campus (good exercise and time to work through some anger), then I drove west on Lincoln Way to South Dakota before heading back east on 30 and south eventually to DSM area. Was home by 11pm, about when multiple callers to Cyclone Reaction were complaining they couldn’t get out of the lots. I knew with a night game it would be a mess. Traffic between Duff exit and I-35 was also as bad as I’ve ever seen it - we had to slam on the brakes and were literally stopped for a while.
On another note, we just about had a really bad accident with some idiot who decided to exit 30 eastbound at University, even though the exit was closed, there were multiple signs, super bright lights, and a cop sitting right there. This car slammed on their brakes, swerved from the left lane, took out a cone, and just continued down the ramp like it wasn’t a big deal. About 3-4 other cars were in front of me and much closer to having a collision.
On another note, we just about had a really bad accident with some idiot who decided to exit 30 eastbound at University, even though the exit was closed, there were multiple signs, super bright lights, and a cop sitting right there. This car slammed on their brakes, swerved from the left lane, took out a cone, and just continued down the ramp like it wasn’t a big deal. About 3-4 other cars were in front of me and much closer to having a collision.
I’m G6 as well, literally got out of the lot in 3-4 minutes and was back to Waukee before 11pm. We were actually confused on how we got out so fast but certainly not complaining.