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Homeless people sleeping in cars take up parking spots at popular Doncaster Park and Ride

Congestion at the Doncaster Park and Ride is being increased by homeless people using the carpark as a hub and taking up valuable spots during the morning peak, frustrated commuters say.

Justin Spencer says homeless people are sleeping in their cars at the Doncaster Park and Ride.
Justin Spencer says homeless people are sleeping in their cars at the Doncaster Park and Ride.

Homeless people sleeping in their cars at Doncaster Park and Ride are taking up parking spots, frustrating commuters during the morning peak.

Justin Spencer said every Friday afternoon and on the weekend the same 50 vehicles could be seen at the transport hub.

“Squatters are staying overnights for exceedingly long periods of time and using the park and ride facilities to freshen up before they go about their day,” he said.

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Mr Spencer said parking restrictions at the transport hub need to be communicated and enforced.

He said this led to another frustration — desperate commuters parking in near-by residential streets.

Concerns have been raised homeless people sleeping in their cars are causing parking congestion at the Doncaster Park and Ride.
Concerns have been raised homeless people sleeping in their cars are causing parking congestion at the Doncaster Park and Ride.

“They need to put more stringent rules in place with clear signage indicating time restrictions, fines and towing of vehicles to stop cars remaining overnight,” he said.

“This behaviour shouldn’t be occurring or being tolerated in the first place.”

Most of the online reviews for the park and ride were critical of the lack of parking.

MORE PARK AND RIDE YARNS

PROMISE NO PARKING LOSS

CAR STACKING COULD HELP

BUS STATISTICS HIDDEN

Erique Chang said: “You will never find a carpark here from 7.30 to 11am. This place definitely needs an upgrade to build a multistorey carpark.”

Frank S said: “The carpark is too small, in the morning, by 7.30am it will be 100 per cent full and you need to find a carpark on the crowded adjacent streets.”

Donna Stolzenberg, chief executive of the Melbourne-based National Homeless Collective, said the issue of people living in cars was more prevalent than people realised.

“It’s a lot more of a slippery slope than people think. The majority are middle aged women who find it hard to say in the housing market,” she said.

“They’re less likely to have been professionally employed and tertiary educated, and more likely to have been caregivers, so therefore they have less super.”

Department of Transport Spokesperson Ben Cuzzupe said some users needed to leave their cars overnight due to shift work.

andrew.rogers@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/homeless-people-sleeping-in-cars-take-up-parking-spots-at-popular-doncaster-park-and-ride/news-story/20a9f39580108172235354b6e88542a9