High school parking shortages force students to arrive early

Students at several high schools in Denmark’s Zealand region are arriving up to 30 minutes early to secure parking spots, as demand far exceeds available spaces, reports DR.

At Slagelse Gymnasium and HF, 17-year-old Alberte Rasmussen now arrives half an hour before classes start to guarantee a spot. “If I don’t, there’s no chance of finding parking, and that just makes the morning more stressful,” she said.

The shortage follows a rule change nearly a year ago allowing 17-year-olds to drive alone during daylight hours. School leaders report the shift has significantly increased demand for limited parking.

Slagelse Gymnasium’s principal, Jacob Friis, has already reserved 14 spaces for teachers to ensure they can start classes on time. “We simply had teachers who couldn’t find parking—you can’t run a school if staff can’t even get to their classrooms,” he explained. He is now considering extending reservations to students who commute long distances, as many lack access to public transport.

At Sorø Akademi, principal Kristian Jacobsen has urged students living nearby to walk or cycle instead of driving. In a newsletter to parents and staff, he noted that local students occupying parking spaces force long-distance commuters to struggle for spots. “When I walk the grounds in the morning, I see students from right here in town taking up parking with their cars,” he said.

Eighteen-year-old Bella Dagal, who recently earned her driver’s license, admitted she prefers driving over her 20-minute bike ride to school. “It’s just faster. Maybe I’ll switch to cycling in the summer,” she said.

Friis acknowledged the challenge of changing habits but stressed that carpooling or alternative transport could ease pressure. For now, students like Rasmussen have no choice but to adjust their routines—or risk starting the day with a parking hunt.