Rod and David Respond to the bylaw
Edmontonians warming to anti-idling bylaw
THE EDMONTON JOURNAL JANUARY 17, 2009
I support the implementation of an anti-idling bylaw in Edmonton, though I'd like to see it apply during colder weather as well.
I attended the Transportation and Public Works Committee hearing Tuesday morning. All the speakers provided convincing arguments showing why council should support an effective anti-idling bylaw.
In Edmonton, on average, there are more than one million car trips per day. Each minute of idling emits, on average 62.5 grams of CO2, CO, heavy metals, particulate and other pollutants. Myles Kitigawa, of Toxics Watch Edmonton, held up a chocolate bar of this weight to demonstrate the impact. Even if this bylaw decreases average emissions by one minute per day, there is much to be gained.
Edmonton is close to exceeding the national standards for particulate matter and ozone pollution. The automobile, especially in central Edmonton, is largely responsible for these pollutants. This bylaw will help Edmonton's air quality remain acceptable. It may help reduce high asthma rates in Edmonton. It will also give citizens a tool to respond to unreasonable idlers.
In terms of effectiveness and cost of enforcement, this bylaw is no different than the snow shovelling, excessive noise and smoking bylaws. While there may initially have been some opposition to these bylaws, today they are generally accepted as reasonable and useful tools to protect the valid concerns of Edmontonians.
Rod Olstad,
Edmonton
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Edmontonians warming to anti-idling bylaw
THE EDMONTON JOURNAL JANUARY 17, 2009
Re: "Anti-idling bylaw gains traction; Activists, students, doctors urge council to pass legislation," The Journal, Jan. 14.
I think the city needs to revisit the exemptions from the anti-idling bylaw for taxis, city and school buses, delivery trucks and large transportation vehicles, as well as other classes of vehicles.
Exempting these vehicles altogether is a mistake and doesn't take into account the amount of time these vehicles spend idling in taxi stands, at bus terminals, outside schools and loading and unloading in industrial centres. I suspect they have a significant impact on our air quality.
David Meurer,
Edmonton
THE EDMONTON JOURNAL JANUARY 17, 2009
I support the implementation of an anti-idling bylaw in Edmonton, though I'd like to see it apply during colder weather as well.
I attended the Transportation and Public Works Committee hearing Tuesday morning. All the speakers provided convincing arguments showing why council should support an effective anti-idling bylaw.
In Edmonton, on average, there are more than one million car trips per day. Each minute of idling emits, on average 62.5 grams of CO2, CO, heavy metals, particulate and other pollutants. Myles Kitigawa, of Toxics Watch Edmonton, held up a chocolate bar of this weight to demonstrate the impact. Even if this bylaw decreases average emissions by one minute per day, there is much to be gained.
Edmonton is close to exceeding the national standards for particulate matter and ozone pollution. The automobile, especially in central Edmonton, is largely responsible for these pollutants. This bylaw will help Edmonton's air quality remain acceptable. It may help reduce high asthma rates in Edmonton. It will also give citizens a tool to respond to unreasonable idlers.
In terms of effectiveness and cost of enforcement, this bylaw is no different than the snow shovelling, excessive noise and smoking bylaws. While there may initially have been some opposition to these bylaws, today they are generally accepted as reasonable and useful tools to protect the valid concerns of Edmontonians.
Rod Olstad,
Edmonton
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Edmontonians warming to anti-idling bylaw
THE EDMONTON JOURNAL JANUARY 17, 2009
Re: "Anti-idling bylaw gains traction; Activists, students, doctors urge council to pass legislation," The Journal, Jan. 14.
I think the city needs to revisit the exemptions from the anti-idling bylaw for taxis, city and school buses, delivery trucks and large transportation vehicles, as well as other classes of vehicles.
Exempting these vehicles altogether is a mistake and doesn't take into account the amount of time these vehicles spend idling in taxi stands, at bus terminals, outside schools and loading and unloading in industrial centres. I suspect they have a significant impact on our air quality.
David Meurer,
Edmonton