Idle City Hall Minds Create Stupid Idling Bylaw

When I was working downtown on 16-20 celsius June days there were hundreds of busses and trucks Idling in a day while drivers were eating lunch or outside having a smoke. Why? The bylaw does have limits which seem reasonable (5-27 degrees). Some people have respiratory diseases that wait outside their building for transport and unnecessary Idling is a hazard. Others have apartments with windows close to the street. Bylaw is complaint driven, and will warn drivers of the bylaw, rather than ticket. I have no problem turning my car off, It saves me money as well.

Could it also be that people idle their engines because they don’t realize how harmful it is to the environment, and how it’s an unnecessary waste of fuel? The sneering tone of this article and the lack of an attempt to understand the reasoning behind this initiative demonstrates a lack of competent reporting.

Angela,

The craziest part of the exhaust fumes being spewed at children in school playgrounds is that the source is often the cars of parents or nannies there on the school run to pick kids up. They arrive twenty minutes (or more) before school’s out so they can get the coveted spots at the front of the line. They sit there with the vehicle idling because their precious cargo can’t get into a cold car.

In good weather, they socialize with the other drivers while they wait. The number of times I’ve been tempted to jump into one of those empty, idling cars and drive off … I’m sure the judge would sympathize, right?

I do wonder, however, if a good public education campaign might have more effect. This would be particularly useful in our schools. The kids take those messages home and have been known to change behaviour.

It seems to me that the worst offenders I see are City and Police vehicles. Perhaps, if we really want to limit idling (and not take in a little money), perhaps traffic signals in town could be a bit better synchronized to limit the idling time waiting at red lights.

I pass through Tunneys Pasture about once a month. Whilst waiting for my westbound bus (often a 10-15 minute wait) it is common to see 10-12 OC Transpo diesel burners idling while the drivers are on a break. Not just in the winter.

The city might want to start at home. Who knows, maybe they could save on fuel expenses as well.

First of all By-law in Ottawa is the biggest joke that ever existed in Ottawa ever. Call them and let them know is going on the street where you live something that happens everyday, have you seen them? No neither have I, also there is 2 handicap parking at the side door of our building I’ve also called about the contractors working in our building parking in those 2 spots and there is no room for the handicap to park. The contractors don’t care neither does the landlord. By-laws are never seen, let alone idling a car,is so so stupid I never in my life ever heard of this. Even in Barrhaven where were the by-law when they are needed? I think the City should get rid of all those lazy by-law people seeing they do nothing to help. Actually everything to do with this city is a complete joke. The city has to be the worst in Canada.

It’s not primarily a question of cracking down. A good by-law is important, and enforcement – especially in the case of egregious violations (e.g. the Feb. 2022 convoy), is important too. But mostly it’s a question of public awareness. Like other cities have done, Ottawa can create awareness through signage and providing information about why we should turn off our engines when we aren’t going anywhere.
It’s also a question of considering the health of others, over the individual’s freedom to do things that are harmful to others. Idling may not immediately or visibly injure anyone. But emissions from idling cause asthma, and are related to other respiratory diseases.
While I agree that a popular, reliable transit system would reduce emissions, and I hope we get there soon, limiting the amount of unnecessary idling done by everybody – including OC Transpo and Ottawa Police – can be a significant contribution to the City’s air quality and to citizens’ health.
The existing by-law is not stupid, but it needs updating. And the new by-law needs to include promotion, clear information, and lots of signage, especially around schools, daycares, clinics, hospitals, libraries, and other places that serve children and seniors.

Based on Mike’s observations, I am let to wonder whether this is but another tempest in a teapot, generated by people who report to work down at city hall (both elected and hired) to appear to be doing something, while accomplishing nothing.

Ken, I’ve read your bio and see that in the past you’ve spent many years in journalism (I have never subscribed to the newspapers you list, but appreciate that they’re mainstream publications). The fact is that, especially in the last 10 years, information sharing has been more and more polarizing and divisive, and your consistently hostile slant on City matters adds to that. There are many major problems facing us now, including extremism (reacting violently to anything you don’t agree with) and global heating, and fanning the flames with reporting that makes no effort to recognize the positive aspects of a course of action contributes to that. We need more constructive commenting, and I hope the Bulldog can be part of that effort. (By the way, I have NO affiliation with any of Ottawa’s city councillors.)

Michael,

My guess would be the city is preparing to enforce the bylaw.

Let’s take after school pick up, parents start lining up 45 minutes before school is let out and if a bylaw officer arrives they can start issuing ticket almost immediately… or within one minute of arriving.