The Equal Access Altona committee is recommending Altona town council improve accessibility to parking in the community for people with disabilities.

Committee chair Amy Pankewich says there's a need for more spaces and better-designed spaces in the community.

"This proposal came about through feedback from individuals in the community. I think there are a lot of facilities around town that are heavily used, so implementing these changes and demonstrating their effectiveness at the town level will be really valuable moving forward."

The Equal Access Altona committee is funded by the town and provides direction to council on improving accessibility for residents with mobility issues. It recommended the removal of physical barriers for wheelchairs on sidewalks and was directly involved in the establishment of a crosswalk on Centre Avenue near Main Street which will be installed this summer.

Pankewich admits progressive changes like these require some time to educate people on their importance to those who need them.

"Individuals who are able-bodied and drive a typical vehicle will pull into a wheelchair accessible space because they are probably thinking that, since the parking space is not being used, what's the likelihood that someone with a disability is going to come in at the same time. While that may be true, in the event that someone needs that space, that space is so valuable to them. So the education piece would underscore the importance to other people about the needs of that space."

The proposal provides a roadmap on how the town can make the necessary changes starting in public spaces like the Millennial Exhibition Centre or the park. Pankewich said she's hopeful local businesses would then follow the town's lead on this initiative.

"We're hoping that businesses in Altona recognize that the needs of Altona are changing. We have a very diverse landscape in terms of needs, so increasing or modifying the existing parking structures is a move in the right direction. We would want to collaborate with businesses on how to make the transition something that isn't going to impact a business in a negative way."

According to Pankewich, the education component of their proposal would also include helping people to be aware of increased signage and what signs to look for.

"We are also hoping to introduce a buffer zone, which would be those two yellow parallel lines with diagonal lines running in between to make it more salient so that, not only are these spots valuable, but we also need to give people more space in these parking spots. They may have mobility equipment that they need to unload, maybe from the side or the back, and in order to do that we need to create space."

Pankewich believes the changes needed to improve parking for people with disabilities require a long term behaviour change which might require a combination of education, reinforcement and possibly enforcement if necessary.

"We want this to be a positive experience and a welcome change and if people who don't have disabilities are parking in these spaces then we need to educate them first. However, if that's not working, enforcement may be something that could be looked at."