By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Zach Whitaker doesn't like to ride the school bus - especially when the Lakota West High School sophomore has his driver's license and can cruise to class in his new black Ford Focus ZX2.

"It stinks to ride the bus - a.k.a. 'The Cheese,' " Zach groused. "We have to ride the bus our whole lives and now we can drive. We have things to do after school."

But because so many students like Zach would rather drive to school than take the bus, township leaders are prohibiting parking along some areas outside Lakota West.

Trustees on Tuesday approved no-parking zones at three separate areas along West Chester Road near the high school.

The no-parking zones are a solution to safety concerns first raised last spring. That's when students who couldn't park in the student lot realized there was nothing stopping them from parking along the public street outside the school.

At least 50 vehicles still can park along West Chester Road outside the school, between Muhlhauser Roadand Union Centre Boulevard. But about 15 spaces have been taken away closest to the school's two entrances off West Chester Road, chiefly so those pulling in and out of the school have better visibility.

Violators who park in the restricted areas will be ticketed.

Lakota West Principal Richard Hamilton said bus drivers, school staff and parents have complained of visibility problems pulling out onto West Chester Road because of all the students' cars.

While appreciative of the new restrictions, Mr. Hamilton said he still would like to see the entire road declared a no-parking zone. Nearly 1,800 students attend the school.

"At dismissal time we have 30-plus buses leaving, a number of cars leaving, parents leaving," he said. "We have a busy street, being off of Union Centre Boulevard, and it just combines a lot of conflicts when kids are starting to pull out, especially young drivers."

But trustees did not halt parking altogether because, they said, students would simply park along nearby residential streets, which would upset neighbors.

There are 560 parking spots for students at Lakota West's lot but only seniors and juniors are eligible for passes for the spots. They are selected according to attendance and grades, Mr. Hamilton said.

"They go quick," he said of the spots. "Students just do not want to ride the bus. It's not just here at Lakota ... they just enjoy the freedom of driving."

Trustee Dave Tacosik says a bikeway is planned to eventually run along West Chester Road. When that's built, the street will need to be declared a no-parking zone anyway, he said.

"We may as well go ahead and bite the bullet now before someone gets hurt," he said.

Some students, however, aren't happy with the restricted zones because it might prevent some of them from driving to school.

"It's really sad if seniors have to ride the bus their senior year," Zach said. "Parking on the street isn't that dangerous. We are able to cross the street. It's not like we're not able to do that."

But Mr. Hamilton pointed out that student parking is a privilege, not a right. "In the great scheme of life, whether they ride the bus or park has little to do with their success here or in the future."

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.