Freshman Madelyn Wilson has found herself tardy and locked out of class a few times this semester. She blames a long commute — not from home but through the confusing parking lot at Lincoln Land Community College.

Wilson’s voice raised and she became animated when asked about the parking at LLCC.

There are a lot of one-way roads, there aren’t enough signs to direct you, and when you finally find a space, it’s a long way from the buildings, Wilson said.

For many new students, the parking lot at Lincoln Land can be their first difficult course to navigate. The first spots can fill up quickly, and the back end requires detouring around the first parking area. Exiting the lot also leaves students lining up at the end of busier days, with cars often backing up to almost 100 cars.

With more than 6,000 students taking classes at Lincoln Land, the parking lot can be a new experience for those who are unfamiliar.

“There are never any spots open so I have to go all the way to the far parking lot and then I’m late for class,” said Lindsey Riedle, a sophomore Education major at LLCC.

Riedle said she has had numerous near accidents.

At the stop along Poorman Drive, the college’s main entrance, Rielde said people often run the stop signs in a rush to be the first one through it.

STATS ON ACCIDENTS OR QUOTE ABOUT TROUBLE AREAS AT LLCC FROM OFFICER/CHIEF OF POLICE

But Freshman Jordan Elliott said the parking didn’t seem too troublesome.

“As long as you follow the signs it’s easy to make it in and out,” Elliott said.

Zach Miller can be reached at [email protected].