Mpls. limits vehicle idling to 3 minutes

[question everything]

KSTP.com - 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Updated at: 06/08/2008 03:59:16 PM
By: Nicole Muehlhausen, Web Producer
Mpls. limits vehicle idling to 3 minutes


The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak approved changes Friday, to the city’s vehicle idling ordinance that aims to reduce air pollution. The ordinance limits most vehicle idling to three minutes, except in traffic. "Most of the air pollution in Minneapolis comes from vehicles and cutting down in idling is one easy thing we can all do for our environment, our health, and the health of our neighbors," said Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Vehicle motors release particulate matter, dirt, nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the air. These chemicals are linked to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease and asthma and are the major source of human-caused climate change. Children are especially vulnerable to vehicle air pollution because their lungs are still developing, and they inhale more pounds of pollution per pound of body weight than adults do.

For the driver, reducing idling saves money in fuel. On average, a car will burn more than half a gallon of fuel for every hour spent idling. In general, 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the car, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Engines generally pollute more when cold and driving a vehicle cuts warm-up time in half. Idling a cold engine actually pollutes more than driving it does and idling is harder on the engine.

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http://kstp.com/article/stories/S469008.shtml

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The reporter interviewed a taxi driver who said that it would be very hard to wait for passengers in a cold taxi

[Angleae]

1. Minneapolis temperatures, 20F today, teens for the week

And they want people to turn their engines off? It gets real cold, real quick that way.

[earthlover]

3. 20 degrees is warm compared to what is ahead!

[question everything]

6. And the Wind Chill, don't forget the Wind Chill

I cannot imagine entering a cold taxi.. I think that taxis snd buses should be exempt.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Interesting...

Hybrids don't idle. They shut off after a minute or two when the car is stopped...

It's pretty eerie till you get used to it...

But there's no gas wasted.

[Fumesucker]

4. We have the opposite problem in the South..

Summers here are brutal, we usually get at least four months of 90 degree plus heat with 80% plus humidity, and if the engine isn't running, neither is the AC.

It also gets cold enough here several months of the year to thoroughly frost your windows, the easiest way to defrost is come out a few minutes early, crank up the car and run the defroster for a little while before you have to leave.

[nebenaube]

5. I live in WI and occasionaly spend time in the Twin cities...

this is unworkable and unenforceable. It only gives the cops the right to hassle anyone, anytime they are not moving. Cars don't run well at -20 when the engine is cold. They use more fuel and emit more pollution when the choke is on. The engines wear more, pistons are sloppy, lifters click, the engines burn more oil. You can't turn the steering wheel as easily. Brake peddles are stiffer. The windows fog. Grease cars coagulate. This is fucking stupid!