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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 15, 2012 · 12 By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Free Transit day for seniors is long overdue lifestyle and greater mobility." Damoff also spoke to the proposal stating while the current Oakville Transit seniors cash fare of $3.25 may not seem like much to many, for some seniors it is a barrier that keeps them from being part of society. "There are a lot of seniors on fixed incomes and this gives them the ability to get out and not worry about paying for it," said Damoff. "Also there may be other seniors who decide to try the bus on a free transit day and find it is not so hard to get to Hopedale Mall by transit and they start using it on a regular basis. So I think this is a win-win for everybody." In their notice of motion issued late last month, Damoff and Khan offered a number of other reasons why the trial is a good idea. They cited a Metrolinx Big Move report, which found that without access to viable alternatives to driving, many seniors may become isolated, limiting their access to services and social connections. Damoff and Khan also drew attention to a United Kingdom study from 2006, which concluded, It's only a day of free bus rides, but for an isolated senior on a fixed income it could make all the difference in the world. This is the argument Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan and Ward 2 Councillor Pam Damoff are making as they call on Oakville Transit to begin a six-month trial that would allow seniors aged 65 and up to ride Oakville Transit for free one day per week. Town council will discuss the subject on Monday, June 18. If council votes to approve the proposal as is, the trial period would begin July 1 with seniors riding free on a day of the week to be determined by Oakville Transit. "Seniors have always contributed to the very fabric of our community and this is one small way of recognizing that and thanking them," said Khan. "Seniors will be able to visit their doctors on a particular day, get their groceries on a particular day and maybe socialize on that day. This will also lead to a healthier "Seniors have always contributed to the very fabric of our community and this is one small way of recognizing that and thanking them." Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan "the introduction of free bus travel for older residents of England appears to have increased public transport use and may have conferred a protective effect against obesity." The notice of motion cited Moncton, N.B. and Ottawa having successfully offered free seniors transit certain days of the week. It also looked at how a pilot program by the Region of Halton to subsidize transit fares for low income households has not been able to keep up with the demand by seniors in Oakville. The motion for the trial period is being brought forward now so the costs of having such a program fulltime can be determined and then possibly included in next year's budget. "There's going to be some people who will say we should refer this to the budget committee, but you can't refer something to the budget committee without having concrete data," said Khan. "This is a pilot project and with it we can figure out whether this will increase ridership, what it will cost, what it is going to expense. This way when the budget committee looks at this in 2013 they have concrete data." Oakville Transit would not discuss the feasibility of the pilot project or having free transit service for seniors once a week stating it has yet to discuss the subject with council. Ruth Sheridan, chair of the Town of Oakville's Seniors' Working Action Group (SWAG), said her group is unwavering in its support for the free transit day for seniors. "This motion came as a delightful surprise and all of our members are thrilled this is coming to council as a motion," said Sheridan. "Everybody I've sent this information to has said this is wonderful news." Sheridan said past and present members of SWAG, previously known as the Oakville Seniors Advisory Committee, have been working on getting Oakville Transit to create a free seniors transit day for years. Some members who first proposed and promoted this idea include the late Patrick Murphy, Terry Ponedel, Verena Sherman, Ted Lambert, Pierre Wong and Garth Brown. STARTING JUNE 23RD FOR OUR AMAZING LUNCH AND WEEKEND BRUNCH ON OUR GARDEN PATIO! WEEKEND BRUNCH*LUNCH*DINNER*NIGHTLIFE NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! IVY GARDEN PATIO GRAND OPENING LAUNCH PARTIES! FRIDAY JUNE 22ND | 6-9 PM Join us for our friDAY AfTEr WorK soCiAL CELEBrATion PArTY on our nEW 5000 squArE fooT iVY GArDEn PATio! 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