Parking permit sales in the city of Champaign for the 2010-2011 school year are down 3.5 percent from last year and 16.5 percent from the year before.

Stacy Rachel, Champaign administrative services supervisor, said permit sales are “unpredictable, as they are impacted by a variety of factors.”

However, she was able to provide potential causes for the decline in sales, one being the competition posed by the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, or CUMTD.

Rachel said University affiliates can ride the bus system at no cost, and that the price for an annual bus pass was reduced last year from $235 to $60. This, she said, made it an affordable option for citizens who live or work near the University.

“The (CU)MTD has also revamped many of its University district routes, so buses are more frequent and hours of service are increased,” she added.

Gordon Utendahl, freshman in DGS, said that the convenience and speed of the bus system is comparable to owning a car.

“The busing system is so great,” Utendahl said. “It took a week to get used to, but now I can get anywhere I want in ten minutes. Just hop on the bus and I’ll get there just as fast as if I had a car.”

In regards to other transportation alternatives, Rachel mentioned an increase in bike riding on campus.

“Bicycling has been a growing transportation option in recent years,” Rachel said. “The number of people choosing this alternative is expected to continue to increase as the number of bicycle lanes on campus and throughout the city expand.”

Michael Pennisi, senior in Engineering, said that biking is better than driving a car in several respects.

“It’s just faster everywhere. You don’t have to pay anywhere and you can use it pretty much every day of the year,” Pennisi said. “I think it’s just the best way to get around campus.”

Rachel said that the city also faces competition from private parking and University permit parking. She also mentioned that it may not be “economically feasible for students to bring a car to campus.”

However, this isn’t necessarily bad for the city, Rachel said.

“The city evaluates and adjusts permit rates in each area annually based on occupancy,” Rachel said. “Our goal is not necessarily to have 100 percent occupancy but to create a balanced system based on demand and safety.”

Rachel also said that lower parking sales don’t have a major economic impact on the city.

“Parking is an enterprise fund which is separate from the city’s general fund,” Rachel said. “Parking revenues are used for parking improvements, and the maintenance and development of parking facilities.”