The City of Ottawa is looking at revamping its idling bylaw to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wants to know what residents think.
Enacted in 2007, its idling control bylaw limits most drivers to running their vehicles for no more than three minutes in a given 60-minute period when the temperature is between 5 C and 27 C.
There’s currently a survey online until mid-March, seeking feedback on why residents idle, where they see other vehicles idling and how that affects them.
“We are asking several questions around potential policy changes, in particular considering a reduction from three minutes to one minute,” said Matthew Suatac, a bylaw review specialist with the city.
“It’s very important to know that your car, if it’s idling for more than 10 seconds, it’s actually idling unnecessarily,” said Robert McLeman, professor of environmental studies at Wilfird Laurier University
Tell that to the myriad of left-turn-only lanes requiring us to stop for no oncoming traffic.
I’ve never seen this enforced so I doubt changing the number will make any difference other than reminding people not to idle their pollutes…
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The City of Ottawa is looking at revamping its idling bylaw to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wants to know what residents think.
Enacted in 2007, its idling control bylaw limits most drivers to running their vehicles for no more than three minutes in a given 60-minute period when the temperature is between 5 C and 27 C.
“[We need to] make sure that the provisions of the bylaw are still working well and essentially still meeting council’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality in Ottawa.”
Other jurisdictions such as Toronto and Burlington, Ont., have already reduced the allowed idling time to one minute, something recommended by Natural Resources Canada.
While two or three minutes of idling might not seem like much, when added up it makes a significant contribution to greenhouse gas pollution, McLeman said.
“It’s probably a fraction of a litre of gasoline, but when we add it all up, it’s the equivalent of taking multiple cars off the road altogether just in the city of Ottawa,” he said.
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