Q&A: Parking reminders to make your commute smooth
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2025) — Each fall, the start of a new semester brings energy and excitement to our campus — along with an expected surge in parking and traffic challenges.
As students, faculty and staff adjust to new schedules and routines, the first few weeks can feel particularly stressful. University of Kentucky Transportation Services is working closely with campus partners and the City of Lexington to facilitate a smooth transition.
Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions to help the UK community navigate this busy time of year.
UKNow: Why does parking and traffic feel especially difficult at the start of the semester?
UK Transportation Services: The first two weeks of the fall semester are always a period of adjustment as students and employees settle into new routines, find their parking areas and learn how to navigate campus. During this time, traffic and parking struggles often surge before they stabilize.
UKNow: What should the campus community keep in mind during this period?
UK Transportation Services: We ask everyone to be flexible and patient, knowing that our team is working closely with campus partners and the City of Lexington to make commutes as smooth as possible. Supervisors and faculty should also be understanding, since occasional delays are unavoidable.
UKNow: What can students and employees do to ease their commute?
UK Transportation Services: Consider allowing extra time when traveling to and from campus, especially during these first few weeks. As routines settle, traffic flow and parking availability tend to improve.
UKNow: How is UK Transportation Services addressing these challenges?
UK Transportation Services: Our team is working diligently to ensure that predictable parking is available for everyone, but we acknowledge this remains a challenge in an urban campus environment. We spend a tremendous amount of time and effort planning and preparing for the fall surge, but the first few weeks always require patience and resilience.
UKNow: What steps can permit holders take to help?
UK Transportation Services: We encourage all permit holders — students and staff alike — to park only in their designated parking areas. This helps reduce congestion and ensures spaces are available for everyone. A map of designated parking locations can be found at transportation.uky.edu/parking-maps.
UKNow: What additional resources are available for getting to and from campus?
UK Transportation Services: We offer a variety of resources to help community members get to, from and around campus, including:
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Commute planning: UK Transportation Services offers free commute planning services to help you explore the many ways to get to and from campus. Submit a request online and a member of the team will help you navigate the campus area.
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Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library: Wildcat Wheels is a nationally recognized program that provides free bicycle use and repair assistance to UK students and employees. The program recently moved into a new home on the first floor of Sports Center Garage. Learn more about the program and its services at transportation.uky.edu/wildcat-wheels.
For maps, resources and the latest information, visit transportation.uky.edu
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.