'It’s madness': Commuters trapped in Panmure unmarked parking lot

Commuters are having their cars blocked in and even damaged at an advertised free carpark.

The Park & Ride at the Panmure Train Station offers public transport users a free car park in return for the use of the Auckland Transport system.

While the concept has brought commuters flocking to the area, a lack of signage and basic markings has meant users are parking wherever they can.

The official car park contains 161 free-to-use spaces; however, these fill up quickly.

Directly across from this is a gravel area, which has been transformed into a makeshift parking lot for those who cannot find a park.

The undeveloped area has no carpark markings displayed; therefore, users have no guidelines to assist them when parking next to others.

Cars are often left crammed together or with other cars blocking their exit.

35-year-old lawyer An Milo uses the car park five days a week to get to work and is often left stranded in the parking lot.

“Just this year alone, I’ve been parked in at least eight to nine times.

“I arrive just before eight. By then, all other car parks are full except for the dreaded gravel car park,” she says.

The lot is intended to be used by cars, as 10km/h signs are displayed across the area.

Milo’s worst experience led to her missing an important meeting with her child’s teacher.

“My son was starting primary school, and I needed to meet his teacher at 4.30 PM. I finished work in the city at 2 PM so that I could get my son ready. When I arrived at the car park at 2:30 PM, I was fully blocked in.

“I ended up waiting for three and a half hours for the guy who blocked me in, who didn't come until 6 PM.”

Although Auckland Transport has previously clarified that the gravel carpark is not owned by AT, there is no signage in the area to display this.

22-year-old university student Isobel Rist also uses the car park and has often been confused about the logistics of it.

“It's right across from the official one. Why would [Auckland Council] have this big car park if it's not for the park and ride?

“All the carpark needs are spray-painted lines, just the bare minimum,” she says.

Rist has witnessed trapped commuters using extreme measures to get to their cars.

“People get pretty desperate, one-time people tried to lift up one of the cars and move it out of the way,” she said.

Milo has also witnessed similar instances.

“People start arguing, there's confrontations, cars have been keyed, one time someone put a pile of stones on another person's car.

“It’s madness,” she says.

“People get really angry, and you just never know when you're going to come back to find your car scratched”

LISTEN: Interview with An Milo.

Whilst the issue has been brought up multiple times with Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and even the police, no advancements in the situation have been made.

The state of the area has turned many users away from using the initiative, instead finding other modes of transportation.

“It certainly discourages me. I think those of us who go there and just hope for the best are pretty desperate, but there's plenty of young people that don't use the service anymore,” says Milo.

Although the area is “set to be developed in the future”, Auckland Council shows no urgency with the matter and no intention of listening to its users’ pleas.

Te Waha Nui is awaiting comment from Auckland Transport and the Auckland Council.