Medical center neglects parking

Nancy G. Knorr Albemarle County
Published: July 29, 2008

I am writing about the parking situation at the Uni-versity of Virginia Medical Center. It is, in a word, disgraceful. 

What were they thinking when they demolished the parking garage across from the West Complex?

I realize a women’s cancer center is to be erected at this site, but surely another site could have been located.
Under the current circumstances, patients who have appointments in the West Complex have to walk a very long way. For me personally, the walk is not a problem, just an irritation, after having just spent 20 minutes circling around the existing garage for a parking space. But for patients who are ill or in pain, the walk is unbearably long. 

I realize there is a shuttle bus in front of the main hospital, but patients who are ill or in pain should not have to sit and wait on the bus.

I have a relative who works at the medical center who tells me her patients incessantly complain to her about the terrible parking situation. I also have friends who complain about it. For an institution that is earning millions of dollars a year and lavishes luxurious office space on physicians, nurses and researchers, it is distressing that adequate and satisfactory parking is not provided to patients and their families.