Anna Talman, 9, noticed it was hard to breathe when cars are idling. "I saw a car idling and thought it would be a problem because it was making it hard for me to breathe" she says. So she did what any other 9 year old would do. Move? No. She started a group, Edmonton's Children-Organized Anti-Idling Recruiters (ECO-AIR), and tried to get a law passed by the Edmonton city council. "When they're idling in front of their house or waiting to pick up their kids from school, or at the drive in at McDonald's, that's when I want to change it," she explains.
She did not get her law but the council did support anti-idling policy for city vehicles and a $140,000 ad campaign against idling. The campaign will create "idle-free" zones and include print, electric advertising and signs reminding drivers to turn off their cars at drive throughs and parking lots. "I'm glad that the motion was passed. I think it will make a difference" responds Anna. But not everyone is happy. Councilman Mike Nickel said he cannot support it. He says, "when it's -40 C out there and you want to leave your car running to keep it warm ... you're going to have the idling police come up to you and tell you to turn off your car?" He also thinks the costs will balloon. "Today it starts at $140,000 and you wait, it will be $250,000 and it will be up to $500,000."
The campaign must still be approved later this year in the budget. Anna says she won't stop trying to get a law passed. "I don't know. That's one thing I'm stuck on to do" she says.
Related:
[Source: Canada.com]
She did not get her law but the council did support anti-idling policy for city vehicles and a $140,000 ad campaign against idling. The campaign will create "idle-free" zones and include print, electric advertising and signs reminding drivers to turn off their cars at drive throughs and parking lots. "I'm glad that the motion was passed. I think it will make a difference" responds Anna. But not everyone is happy. Councilman Mike Nickel said he cannot support it. He says, "when it's -40 C out there and you want to leave your car running to keep it warm ... you're going to have the idling police come up to you and tell you to turn off your car?" He also thinks the costs will balloon. "Today it starts at $140,000 and you wait, it will be $250,000 and it will be up to $500,000."
The campaign must still be approved later this year in the budget. Anna says she won't stop trying to get a law passed. "I don't know. That's one thing I'm stuck on to do" she says.
Related:
[Source: Canada.com]
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