Lance Powers, assistant manager at the Shell service station, is ready to pump gas for senior Marlene West. In the background are Mayor Stu Wells, who went to bat for West, and service station owners Dal and Sat Brar. The Shell station will be offering full-service gas two days a week for seniors and anyone else who wants it for a small premium to help cover the cost of a second attendant. The Petro-Canada station at Nk’Mip Corner also offers seniors days. (Richard McGuire photo)
Pumping gas is a ritual we’re used to as full-service gas stations have faded into history, but for many seniors it’s a serious obstacle to their ability to drive.
That’s why Marlene West, a resident of Mariposa Gardens, took her concern to Stu Wells, the outgoing mayor of Osoyoos.
Last week they found a solution.
Wells took the issue up with Sat Brar, the owner of the Shell service station on Hwy. 97, and Brar agreed to try offering full service for a small premium price two days each week.
Full service is being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., said Brar.
The idea isn’t completely new in Osoyoos. The Nk’Mip Corner Petro-Canada has been offering Seniors Days on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with full pump service.
But, as West points out, the pumps at the Petro-Canada are at a distance from the cash register that can still inconvenience a senior relying on a walker and paying with a credit card.
“I’ve been trying to find a full-service gas station for quite awhile,” said West. “There used to be one in Oliver, but there isn’t any more. I searched all over Penticton and couldn’t find anything.”
West said she has a friend in a wheelchair who is able to drive, but can’t pump his own gas. Other gas stations refused to pump for him.
“That upset me, so I said I’m going to figure out how to do this,” said West. “I know Stu (Wells) quite well and I decided he would be the person to talk to if you want to get something going.”
Wells was anxious to assist.
“We have a lot of senior ladies living here and they find it very cumbersome to fill up their cars,” said Wells. “Some of them as they get older hardly have the strength to squeeze the trigger.”
Wells pointed out that it’s not just seniors – some other people who are dressed well for work don’t want to get messy filling a diesel car, for example.
It took awhile for West, Wells and Brar to connect – West was in Africa earlier in the year – but Brar was open to the idea.
“There’s a lot of senior citizens that are interested and maybe some handicapped people that might require help,” said Brar. “I said I’m all for it because we need the local support and we should support our locals during the off-season as well. That’s what made me want to involve myself in this.”
There are logistical challenges that Brar is still working out. One challenge is that the service station needs to have two staff working when full service is offered – one to pump gas and one to handle the store.
West said she and most seniors have no problem paying a premium of a few cents a litre to have their gas pumped, but modern gas station technology makes this difficult.
As Brar explained, all pumps must charge the same price for fuel and most customers prefer saving the money and pumping their own gas.
Gone are the days when the service attendant would bring out a paper copy of the credit card slip for the customer to sign.
Nor will the Shell point-of-sale system work with the portable credit and debit card readers used by restaurants.
For now, those wanting full service will need to either pay the attendant with cash or come into the store to pay with a credit or debit card.
West’s friend Shirley Beck also lives at Mariposa Gardens. She uses a cane and sometimes a walker.
“As we get old it’s really tough,” she said. “You can still grip the wheel, but pumping is hard and it’s cold.”
She often has a friend take her car in to get it filled.
Beck said she also is willing to pay a few extra cents per litre to have someone else pump the fuel.
Wells said he approached the Shell station because he knows Brar and also because the station often does have a second staff person on because of propane sales.
But he would be happy to see other service stations in Osoyoos offering full service to those who need it.
“This isn’t exclusive by any means,” said Wells. “If there are other opportunities, I’m sure those people could come forward also.”
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
