|
Friday, October 10, 2008 |
|
|
|
Temp:
|
1°C
|
|
Feels like:
|
1°C
|
|
Humidity:
|
81%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Idle pursuits |
|
|
|
Written by -- Editor Dave Paulson
|
|
Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
Related Items
EDITOR DAVE PAULSON
An "anti-idling ambassador" will identify locations where most of the unnecessary idling is taking place. The intention is to take the survey results to city hall with an eye toward adopting an anti-idling bylaw aimed at reducing air pollution.
Drive-thru restaurants will be an obvious target. The popularity of these businesses is partly due to the convenience they offer their customers -- buy your coffee, snack or meal without leaving the comfort of your car.
Some of the drive-thru lines get so busy, especially during the morning rush to work, it's quite possible customers would save time by parking the car and going inside the restaurant. They would also use less gas and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
However, because of the growth of the drive-thru phenomenon the amount of land required by these restaurants has shrunk, leaving little space for parking at some locations. It should be mandatory for businesses to include a sufficient number of parking spaces so customers aren't forced to use the drive-thru.
Any bylaw should not apply to anyone with mobility problems or parents with young children on board.
(The popularity of these businesses begs the question: Doesn't anyone make coffee at home anymore? It's possible there is a generation of people who have never heard of a Thermos.)
Beyond drive-thrus, there should also be limits on idling in school parking lots, extreme cold weather being the exception.
If every driver cuts back, they would reduce greenhouse gases and fine particulates in the airshed while saving money on fuel -- no small matter with the price jumping to $1.35 a litre this week, and headed higher.
A dedicated Air Care program like the one in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley should expand to other cities. It's nonsense that a polluter that isn't allowed on the road in Vancouver can be driven in Prince George with impunity.
A lot of people rail against the idea of an anti-idling bylaw, but its main purpose should be to educate and spread awareness. If everyone does the sensible thing and changes their habits a little -- and who wouldn't with the price of gas? -- there wouldn't be a need for a bylaw.
But although conservation and pollution reduction at the grassroots is beneficial, little improvement will be seen locally until limits are placed on industrial polluters, the biggest culprits.
-- Editor Dave Paulson
 |
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 140 guests and 4 members online
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
