Auckland streets become a park 'n ride as commuter cars block residents

Monday, 26 June 2017

Tennyson Ave in Takapuna is full of workers' cars each day, which leaves nowhere for residents to park.

From the early hours of the morning, residential streets on Auckland's North Shore fill up with workers securing a car park for the day, much to the frustration of those whose houses they park in front of.

The problem is rife across the area, especially in streets close to public transport hubs or town centres.

Porritt Ave has become a 'park and ride' for people catching buses from Mokoia Rd, according to an exasperated Chatswood resident.

'It's shocking,' the Porritt Ave resident said.

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'Cars parked both sides of the road down past Calman Place makes the road now one-way on weekdays.

'It's very dangerous trying to back out of houses as you can't see for the sea of cars.'

Residents of Tennyson Ave said their street is used by workers who park and then make the short walk to central Takapuna to their job or to catch buses to the city.

This leaves the residents with no on-street parking.

Like many streets in this block, the residential half of Tennyson Ave has no parking restrictions, while the side closest to Lake Rd has time limits.

Commuters unable to find a park at the Constellation Bus Station park and ride, spill out into Unsworth Heights.

'Overflow passengers park in our streets, often over corners, and frankly it's like playing dodgems to get to my house at night after work as the road is reduced to single lane and you can't see what might be coming around the corner until you are both bonnet to bonnet,' a Santiago Cres resident said.

Another Santiago Cres resident has placed cones outside their property so they can access their own driveway.

Sunesh Bipat is fed up with inconsiderate parking in Birkdale Rd each day.

'People park on the side of the road even along yellow lines. This is a huge safety problem,' Bipat said.

'Most of the time it's the same cars, which are not there at night, only during the day.

'I am actually so fearful of where I park as I don't want to get fined, or worse towed, but some of these individuals just don't care.'

PARKING FINES

Car parks on residential streets can sometimes be hard to come by; however, some parking infringements are more costly than others.

Auckland Transport does not clamp vehicles and will only move a vehicle if it's a matter of road safety, obstruction or public interest.

A ticket for parking on a yellow line will set you back $60.

Parking in a cycle lane, parking in a clearway, parking too close to a driveway, parking on a berm or grass verge and parking in a bus stop are all fines of $40.

Overstaying in a timed parking spot is subject to incremental fines from $12 for not more than 30 minutes, up to $57 for more than six hours.