What would you do? Train station car park full.

[Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 00:35

Say you worked around 40km away from home. To get to work, you drive your car to your local train station, and ride the train to work.

Say you got to the multilevel car park today and every single spot was taken. You don't have time to go back home and find an alternative way to get to work on time.

So you park just outside a bay, like several other cars have done, and expect a fine.

You come home and no surprise, you have been fined. $110.

What would you have done? Parked illegally too? Called work and tell them you'll be late by at least an hour while you figure out another way to get to work? Gone home and called in sick?

Automotive

closed Comments

  • holdenmg on 16/08/2017 - 08:06
    +31

    I blame politicians that have Dual Citizenship…

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 09:30
      +5

      Easier to blame the Kiwi's, no?

      • xuqi on 16/08/2017 - 12:25
        +4

        No, blaming Pom's is easiest of all.

    • serpserpserp on 17/08/2017 - 19:54
      +2

      They are part of the DNP (Dual National Party).

  • Banana on 16/08/2017 - 08:23
    +1

    Whenever I go to a new carpark/station,I would usually suss out what time the carpark gets filled by going extra early. I live 1 and half hour away from work and 2 hours away from university. I usually leave home by 7am regardless of my start time as the carpark gets filled up pretty early.

  • original15 on 16/08/2017 - 08:38
    +2

    How far away from station are you? If less than 1.5km, walk. At times when my train line has been down I've either turned around and worked from home, or (when I used to drive) driven in to another station or shopping centre ("lost parking ticket" is $30 whereas parking for 8 hours is about $80 so…I always used to lose my ticket)

    • cameldownunder on 16/08/2017 - 11:51
      +3

      Some car parks at shopping centre now have Car Plate recognition.

      • serpserpserp on 17/08/2017 - 19:55

        I don't have any plates with car images on them, thank god.

    • Seraphin7 on 17/08/2017 - 09:05

      Yep, this is a great one. Have used this many times.

  • kipps on 16/08/2017 - 08:44
    +15

    If I worked more than 40 km from home I would find another job.

    • serpserpserp on 17/08/2017 - 19:56
      +4

      You sound like a Liberal politician. The answer to every problem is just "get a better job"

  • slow on 16/08/2017 - 08:46
    +1

    There is always somewhere you can park, but you may have to walk a bit and get the next train and be a bit late for work

    • serpserpserp on 17/08/2017 - 19:57

      Yeah exactly. Then after you are consistently late to work everyday for a few weeks you are likely to probably not have a job. So problem solved.

      • slow on 17/08/2017 - 21:12

        The OP did indicate this was a one-off, not a daily occurrence

      • samfisher5986 on 18/08/2017 - 10:54

        You know its possible for a person to wake up earlier right?

  • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 08:54
    +3

    i see heaps of people get to the station way earlier than they need to just to get a spot..sitting in their cars playing with their phones

    • carwashhair on 16/08/2017 - 09:18
      +7

      …Anything to avoid going to work…

    • gentlecrack on 16/08/2017 - 11:18
      +1

      Dual benefits. Get a parking, catch up on your Netflix without a pissed-off miss.

      • cameldownunder on 16/08/2017 - 11:52
        +2

        I prefer leaving work early, and go to the pub, before going home. More fun than sitting in the car.

        • gentlecrack on 19/08/2017 - 09:55

          True that for the flexy hours lucky lot.

  • picklewizard on 16/08/2017 - 09:02
    +2

    Driven far enough from the station to get on-street parking.

    You'd be late for work today, but tomorrow you'll know and will go in earlier.

  • CyberMurning on 16/08/2017 - 09:25
    +1

    car pool?

  • Gronk on 16/08/2017 - 09:28
    +1

    Not drive to the train station?

  • R-Man on 16/08/2017 - 09:50
    +16

    just stay in the drive thru, don't park

  • lostn on 16/08/2017 - 10:20
    +4

    Some options:

    A. Park further away in a side street. (My preferred option)
    B. Switch to a less busy station on a permanent basis. Those tend to be the ones that get passed by express trains unfortunately.
    C. Circle around the car park until someone leaves. (My least preferred option because I don't like stalking people)
    D. You're paying for public transport anyway. Consider if you can catch a bus from home to the station instead of driving.

    How far away is the station from your home?

    Calling them up and telling your boss you'll be late an hour will cost you less than a $110 fine.

    • BoomTetrisForJeff on 17/08/2017 - 00:11
      +4

      not sure if C is viable you might be waiting there till the work day is over haha

  • ausdday on 16/08/2017 - 10:25

    If you car is still under warranty, just drive to the nearest workshop, pretend something's wrong with you car, have them check and request a lift to the nearest train station.

    • lostn on 16/08/2017 - 10:30

      Does it have to be a dealer, or any workshop?

      • ausdday on 16/08/2017 - 10:35

        dealer workshop i would suppose. it depends on the brand of car as well I think.

        If you own a bugatti, i think they will send a concierge to your house, drop you off a train station, and send the car for check up. Just guessing. :)

        • John Kimble on 16/08/2017 - 18:12
          +4

          I doubt a Bugatti owner would catch a train anywhere.

  • apple2016 on 16/08/2017 - 10:38
    +2

    You come home and no surprise, you have been fined. $110.

    You could drive to work and find some parking for less than $110?

    • itstuan on 16/08/2017 - 13:48
      +2

      That's true. Most carpark in city capped under $100/day I believe. The fact that OP expected $110 fine but still decided to leave his car their instead of driving to work, is beyond my understanding.

      • nothommus on 16/08/2017 - 15:27

        Depending on what you drive, the fuel could be a big factor, although you would be saving money on train fare.

        • greatlamp on 16/08/2017 - 20:37

          If he planned on taking the train op may not have had time. Morning traffic can be much slower than train trip

      • cameldownunder on 17/08/2017 - 17:17

        Gambling ! Hey maybe the ranger was having a day off.

  • idonotknowwhy on 16/08/2017 - 10:40

    Have you considered catching an uber to/from the station?

  • oscargamer on 16/08/2017 - 10:56
    +6

    pay me $80 and i'll take your car from the station and park it at my place and return it to you when you're ready

  • fusion17 on 16/08/2017 - 11:47
    +1

    You should have taken the risk for a fine in a less obvious place. Like a misc 2-3hr spot on the street.

    • Slippery Fish on 16/08/2017 - 21:36

      Parking fine at my council is like $12

  • Lockieasy on 16/08/2017 - 11:54
    +5

    Park your car on the train tracks of course.

  • aromaticsnail on 16/08/2017 - 11:55
    +4

    Motorbike.

    • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 17/08/2017 - 09:19

      this. I bought a cheap motorbike for the specific purpose of parking at the train station. There's always somewhere to park a motorbike

  • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 12:35

    Get a small kick scooter (RAZER or whatever they are called). Park bit further away from the station and scoot to station. Be there in 5-10 mins.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 12:45
    +4

    I would be smarter next time and get to station earlier. I would also not complain for my own mistake. Try it sometime.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 13:09
      +3

      Most people think the same. Where I live, the station parking is full by 6:30.

      • itstuan on 16/08/2017 - 13:51
        +1

        Consider finding a alternative place to park or route to take. For example, drive to a another bus/trams stop where you can commute.

        • tonyjzx on 16/08/2017 - 13:53
          +1

          I haul ass to the next station.

          To be fair I don't know how far the next station is the OP but the fact he doesn't even mention is starts to raise questions on whats wrong with these people.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 13:57

          I usually walk to the station. On the odd occasion I have had to drive to the station, I drive to some other station where there is a chance of getting a parking spot.

        • meong on 16/08/2017 - 17:14

          @ms:

          Get a cheap KMART bike or 2nd bike then ride to the station?

    • Hunter14 on 17/08/2017 - 14:20
      +1

      To be fair to the OP, they are not really complaining. Just asking what others would have done.

  • Word on 16/08/2017 - 13:22
    +2

    Bike.

  • CMH on 16/08/2017 - 13:31
    +2

    Bikes.

    • inherentchoice on 16/08/2017 - 13:54
      +4

      Bikies.

      • TicTacsSmellNice on 16/08/2017 - 18:06
        +6

        Bikkies. Sit in the car eating them and hope someone moves before you finish the packet.

        • jsediv on 16/08/2017 - 19:02
          +2

          Triple drop for dayyyyysssss

  • Name on 16/08/2017 - 13:40
    +11

    I once made a terrible sequence of decisions… I had a meeting at 9am, and just missed the train.. The next one wasn't coming for another 30 minutes which meant I would miss the meeting. I live about 70km/h away from work, so I figured i'd just drive in and get early bird parking. On the way in there was a crash on the motorway, I was no longer going to make it in before the earlybird cut off and didn't want to pay $90 for the day. So I decided to switch back to the train and get on a train that had a stop about halfway in to work. When I got to the train station the car park was completely full and so were the surrounding streets! So I started to work my way back along the train line until I found a car park that had space….I ended up about a 15 minute drive from my house.. 2 stations away from my usual station. All in all, i made it in just before lunch time after commuting for about 3.5 hours.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 13:58
      +5

      70km/h

      That's the speed. What's the distance?

      • Name on 16/08/2017 - 14:51

        ha, yeah wasn't thinking… 70km.. speed is actually 110km/h :P although during peak, it's no where near that.

    • greatlamp on 16/08/2017 - 20:40

      Could call in sick?

      • Name on 16/08/2017 - 20:52
        +2

        Should have.

    • Hunter14 on 17/08/2017 - 14:23

      So did you still make your 9am meeting?

  • Sydneyswans on 16/08/2017 - 14:25
    +1

    So here’s what I have done. Firstly the last time this happened was in my old job and I had parked at a station that wasn’t the closest as such but the next one thinking I would be able to find a spot at around 11am. Unfortunately this proved disastrous as there was no spots left and off street parking was either too far away or full of no stopping signs. In this case I parked on the multi story despite the car park being full as did another 20 or so cars and low and behold a $108 ticket when I came back at 7pm that night.

    Now however I have since changed jobs and work more normal hours. Thankfully the 7am starts mean I always get a spot but the 8-10am starts are a killer. If I miss out on the multi story I simply park off the street. The one time I did park in a carpark and got a fine was when they were renovating the carpark and the roads were under maintenance and the space I had parked in was hallway through being paved over and turned into part of a footpath. Nevertheless this was still not considered a legitimate space according to Blacktown *****ing council. Anyone in Sydney knows the west has significant traffic and parking issues. So much so that even the parking lots at the bus stops get full and police officers issue tickets to everyone parked on the “grass”. As expected low and behold another $108 fine. This time I wrote in and I begged and pleaded over the phone only to get a big F*** off response from revenue NSW and the people manning their call centre. No amount of letters or photographs would be considered so today incidentally I bit the bullet and am paying it off a few dollars at a time.

    Nowadays I just park anywhere where its legal even if its full and im running late ill park 15 minutes walk away if it means I don’t get caught with the ticket. It sucks I know but Sydney has a massive infrastructure problem and no amount of money invested will fix the problems which should have been fixed years ago. Parking issues will eventually be rectified but at the same time high rises will choke the roads up so it’s a catch 22.

    Ultimately the point is a) get a job with good hours or b) take public transport all the way or c) be willing to park anywhere that is LEGAL even if it means you have to walk further, just take it as part of your daily exercise. Remember with commuter car parks you have very little chance of winning a parking ticket claim at least from my experience anyway.

  • humdingaling on 16/08/2017 - 14:34

    sounds like every major train station hub in Sydney

  • gooddealmate on 16/08/2017 - 14:37
    +7

    Buy 2 Smart ForTwo cars. Leave one parked there permanently and then use the other one to park in the same spot and get to and from home. That way there's always space there as 2 can fit in 1 spot.

    • Baysew on 16/08/2017 - 14:45
      +2

      No need to buy two. Just buy one and park where you see someone adopting this tactic.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 15:57

        Always a risk of being parked in with that strategy…

        • Baysew on 16/08/2017 - 16:04
          +2

          If everyone had a smart car as a station car, there be twice as many parks.

          Of course the train might be twice as crowded.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 16:06
          +4

          @Baysew:

          If everyone had a motorcycle, there'd be 6x many parking spots
          If everyone used a bicycle, there'd be 20x parking spots
          If everyone just rode the bus, they wouldn't need a car park…

        • resisting the urge on 17/08/2017 - 16:57
          +1

          @Baysew: No doubt the Council will fine you one or both cars for not parking as directed. Some lawyer they pay handsomely with tickets and taxed earnings will produce the required interpretation for them to achieve the necessary innovation.

          Either that or they will goto even more expense to introduce a special regulation, just for smart-arses!

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 15:56
      +7

      Or just install your own bollard in a parking spot. I bet it'll take months/years for anyone to realise it shouldn't be there …

  • bobbified on 16/08/2017 - 15:12
    +3

    A full carpark is quite common in those areas. The first mistake was to not have a Plan B or Plan C, etc.

    In future, have a plan in mind for times when the carpark is full. If that includes driving to the nearest Westfield that's close to a station or if it's a smaller station with no express trains or simply driving all the way to work, then be it.

    Getting a $110 fine should be your very, very last resort.

    Also, I don't agree with pulling sick days simply because you've missed getting a parking spot because that issue is something that is foreseeable.

  • PopCounty on 16/08/2017 - 15:12
    +2

    Use parking app like Parkopedia. If not concrete, can have a rough estimate as to where you can park legally.

  • MadMaxBargainRoad on 16/08/2017 - 15:24
    +2

    Electric bike to the station

  • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2017 - 16:50

    You come home and no surprise, you have been fined. $110

    Cldn't you plan ahead?

    • park further away from the station.

    • Ride / walk to the station instead of
      driving.

    • Get the bf/friend/ flatmate to drop you at the station.

    • Drive to another station

    • Drive to work… Etc

    • last resort, take a sickie

    So many possibilities and yet you chose to incur a $110 fine?! sigh A fool and his money are easily parted…

    I hope that your daily wage > $110

    • Mike88 on 16/08/2017 - 17:52
      +3

      I'd be surprised if someone is willing to pay OP >$110 based on their problem solving skills

    • MrTweek on 16/08/2017 - 22:27

      last resort, take a sickie

      I'd rather pay $110 than pulling a sickie.
      Your employer shouldn't be paying for your mistakes. And they'd most likely pay more than $110 for your sickie.

  • tanksinatra on 16/08/2017 - 17:27

    I can sympathise. It is very frustrating when try to do the right thing and catch the train, but then there's no parking!

    I used to live about a 15 minute drive the end of a long train line (~80km), and my house was not served by buses. My only option was to drive and the car park would fill up by about 630am. If the car park was full I would have to risk a ticket or drive to work.

    You can 'plan ahead' and come earlier but that just shifts the problem earlier - someone else will miss out!

    Fortunately the council eventually built a large multistory carpark.

  • Phenotype on 16/08/2017 - 18:02

    Is this south morang stn by any chance? Provided your home was close, I would have driven back there then caught an Uber to the station.

  • jason101 on 16/08/2017 - 18:50
    +5

    What would you have done? - Consider moving to Adelaide? We find these posts intriguing down here ;-)

  • jsediv on 16/08/2017 - 19:01

    Become a Bikies

  • ronnknee on 16/08/2017 - 20:02

    Wake up earlier.

  • PcisT on 16/08/2017 - 20:27
    +3

    I would post on OzBargain about it.

  • Mysterious Laptop on 16/08/2017 - 20:57

    mate you gotta suck it up and go earlier, sounds like you're getting to the station at late 7am. If not learn to ride a motorbike.

    Does sound a bit like seven hills, you shouldve parked outside around the station near that grassy area, always parking there because people are too lazy to walk. Just a bit shifty walking back in the dark.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 16/08/2017 - 22:16

    Wake up earlier and go to the gym near your work.

    Melbourne is nearly just as bad.

  • dlin-me on 16/08/2017 - 22:26
    +1

    I used to try really hard to get a space at the station car park. These days, I park my car 5 minutes walking away from the train station, I am pretty happy with it as I can always find a street parking space. And a little walking in the morning sounds healthy.

  • hunterhalo on 16/08/2017 - 23:20
    +1

    this is my own opinion only, Now, this is the problem isnt it? if the government want to utilise public transport then they should give it all, bus, tram, train, drive and park at train station they spend the next horrible hour to ride to work? isnt it should be more bus station and catch the bus to train or tram station? that is why i hate it so so so much when they expand st alban, ginnifer station car park, to nearly 1 giant car park, almost connect 2 stations together. Furthermore, public transport ticket in Melbourne is too damn expensive these days, i rather pay for early bird ticket and sit in the comfort of my vehicle than trying to look for a parking spot. Last option, bikie hehe, which i chose, cheaper to insure, free parking spot, build up my endurance for the cold, dangerous? not really, as the speed during peak hours is relatively slow

  • nobarginsarehere on 16/08/2017 - 23:37
    +1

    In this case, I would have driven to work and paid the parking fee for the day, it would have been less than $110.

    $110 is a good chunk of what you would have earned that day.

    I would start going into work earlier, see if you can talk to HR to start earlier and knock off earlier.

    I go into work a good 30-60 minutes earlier and chill in the office. It's either that or spend that same time in peak hour traffic.

  • MyEducation on 17/08/2017 - 00:39
    +3

    I used to have a deal with some people who lived near the train station where I'd give them $50 a month to park my car on their driveway. (train station was always full and rest was paid parking which easily cost more than $30 a week)

    Just door knock on the weekend with some food or offering on hand and see if anyone has spare driveway space.

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