Senior asks Innisfil Council for dedicated senior parking spots

An Innisfil senior is asking for designated parking spots around town for anyone over 65.

Gay Miller presented a petition signed by 329 people to town council at a meeting last night, and requested  a new bylaw that would create restricted parking spots for seniors, similar to the way disabled spots are allocated.

"Some people ask why don't seniors just get a disabled tag?" Miller said. "They really felt like it would be lying. Seniors felt like it would be dishonest and they don't want to feel like they are forced to lie and park in disabled spots.

"We are not technically disabled."

Also, there are not enough disabled parking spots for those who need them and able-bodied seniors don't want to take the spots.

Miller envisions a system that requires drivers to register with the town after their 65th birthday and pay an annual fee for a pass that would allow them to park in "senior" spots as required.

"We're not going to use them all the time, but just when we need them. Maybe somebody's arthritis is acting up one day and they can't walk that far. We just need a few spots for us to share when we are having a bad day."

A 2012 Statistics Canada survey found that mobility, pain and flexibility were the most common complaints for people over 45 and that problems increased with age.

Miller says her plan would also create ecurring revenue for the town and increased business for local shops.

Council directed staff to "investigate the feasibility" of the proposal.