Parking changes support sustainability and flexibility 

UVic is committed to taking action on climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A key goal of the Sustainability Action Plan is to continue to increase the campus community’s use of transit, cycling, walking and carpooling. One way to move the dial is through changing parking management practices and encouraging students, faculty and staff to use sustainable modes of travel. 

In fall 2021, the first phase of parking rate changes came into effect. Term parking passes were discontinued, and the cost of monthly parking decreased from $114 to $75 for general parking and from $199 to $131 for reserved parking. Daily parking rates at lots further from Ring Road (e.g., Velox, Ian Stewart Complex and Lam Circle) also decreased from $9 to $6 per day.

Effective Sept. 1, 2022, annual parking permits will be replaced by monthly permits and other flexible options. The new approach provides commuters with increased flexibility—especially meaningful in a time of hybrid work arrangements—and the option to shift some or all of their commute to transit, walking or cycling, or to take advantage of discounted parking in lots a bit further from the centre of campus. 

“These changes respond to requests from campus community members who have been asking for more options and flexibility,” says Mike Wilson, director of campus planning and sustainability. “The flexibility provided by new parking permit options combined with an increased employee transit pass subsidy will encourage sustainable ways of getting to and from campus, which in turn will help UVic meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets and support healthy communities.” 

One of the most flexible parking options is the Flex 25 pass, which offers 25 daily single-use general parking permits with no expiry date. Staff with a Flex 25 permit can now also purchase an employee bus pass at a reduced cost of $35 per month ($38.50 in 2021), an option not previously available. Reduced-rate value permits (at 35 per cent less than the cost of a general permit) will continue to be available for lots that are slightly further from the centre of campus: Velox and Ian Stewart Complex lots off Gordon Head Road, and Lam Circle.  

New for 2022, drivers with a parking permit for persons with disabilities, who require parking close to buildings, may park within any reserved parking space at a discounted rate (35 per cent less than a general permit). 

The pricing of a monthly pass means that a student attending campus for eight months a year will experience almost no cost increase compared to their current annual permit. Compared to the City of Victoria and other local post-secondary institutions, the cost of on-campus parking at UVic remains competitive. 

Revenue from pay parking offsets the cost of sustainable transportation programs at UVic, including subsidized bus passes for students and employees and cycling facilities, including the Campus Bike Centre, bike shelters and racks. 

Updated information about parking for fall 2022: uvic.ca/parking